site.btaTwo Missiles Strike Odesa from Black Sea

Two missiles were launched at Odesa from the Black Sea, with powerful explosions heard in the city, local Telegram channels said on Tuesday.

An air raid alert was issued at 11:21 a.m., with explosions heard about five minutes later.

After the alert, local Telegram channels, including Odesa Info, were the first to report the attack, as they routinely post updates on strikes in Ukraine before official statements are issued.

Regional authorities urged residents to take shelter as the air raid alert remained in effect.

Bulgarians in the Odesa region number over 150,000 and were the third largest population group in Ukraine in 2001, according to the official census. About 50,000 - 60,000 Bulgarians live in the city of Odesa itself. The largest compact Bulgarian population is concentrated in the Bolhrad, Izmail and Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi districts.