A Russian missile strike on Odesa killed 16 people injuring 73 on March 15, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper reported.
The number of wounded to various degrees of severity reportedly included at least seven first responders, as well as an unspecified number of police officers.
Rescuers immediately arrived at the scene of the impact and began extinguishing the fire, sorting out the debris, and searching for the injured, according to the State Emergency Service.
During the operation, Russian forces struck the site again.
Several explosions were reported in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa between 11 and 11:20 a.m. local time, almost immediately after an air raid alert went off in the region.
Russian forces launched Iskander-M ballistic missiles from occupied Crimea, Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces said.
ccording to the Southern Defense Forces, a three-story recreational building was destroyed by the strike.
It also damaged other civilian infrastructure, including 10 houses and a gas pipeline, the emergency service reported earlier.
Emergency services continue working at the scene of the attack.
Kiper announced there will be a day of mourning in Odesa Oblast on March 16.
Russian troops regularly attack the city of Odesa and Odesa Oblast with drones and missiles.
A total of 12 people, including five children, were killed in the March 2 drone attack on an apartment building.
On March 5, Russia attacked Odesa during the visit of President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
The missile hit 300-400 meters away from the leaders, Zelensky said.