Russian drone attack damages port infrastructure, civilian vessel in Odesa

Russia launched another drone attack on Odesa on the evening of December 22, damaging port infrastructure and a civilian vessel, local authorities said.

Oleh Kiper, head of the Odesa Regional State Administration, noted on Telegram all relevant emergency services are working at the scene to deal with the consequences of the strike. Preliminary reports indicate that no casualties have been recorded, Caliber.Az reports.

Odesa has been a frequent target of Russian drone and missile attacks since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The port plays a critical role in Ukraine’s economy, serving as one of the main outlets for grain and other agricultural exports under the Black Sea Grain Initiative framework. Russia has repeatedly struck port infrastructure, grain silos, and vessels in Odesa, with the stated aim of disrupting Ukraine’s export capacity and food security support for global markets.

As of December 23, 2025, peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia remain in an intensive but stalled phase, driven primarily by U.S. mediation under President Donald Trump. The process has seen multiple rounds of shuttle diplomacy, but no breakthrough has been achieved due to deep divisions over territory, security guarantees, and other core issues.

The latest developments centred on talks in Miami, Florida, over December 19–21. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (assisted by Jared Kushner) held separate meetings with Ukrainian negotiators (led by Rustem Umerov), European representatives, and Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev.

By Khagan Isayev