Russian Strikes Hit Odesa and Dnipro, Killing One in Ukraine

Russian forces launched overnight drone strikes, missile attacks and shelling across Ukraine on Monday, May 18, 2026, killing one person and injuring more than 30, Ukrainian officials said. The attacks hit several regions, including Odesa in the south and Dnipro in the southeast. Ukraine said residential areas and civilian facilities were damaged.

In Odesa, drones struck residential buildings as well as a school and a kindergarten in the Black Sea port city, officials said. An 11-year-old boy and a 59-year-old man were among those injured, according to local authorities.

In Dnipro, missile strikes injured 18 people, including two children aged two and 10, regional officials said. Separately, officials reported three people injured in the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia and said attacks in the southern region of Kherson killed one person and injured nine.

Russia reports drones downed over Rostov and Belgorod

In Russia, authorities said drones were downed overnight over the Rostov and Belgorod regions. The reports came as both countries continue long-range attacks involving drones and missiles.

The latest strikes followed a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow over the weekend, which Russian officials said killed at least four people. Three of the deaths were reported in the Moscow region, according to officials.

Independent verification remains difficult

Both Russia and Ukraine deny deliberately targeting civilians. Independent verification of battlefield accounts remains challenging.

Officials in both countries have continued to issue updates on air defense activity and strike damage, and further reports are expected as assessments of the overnight attacks continue.