Russia Attacks Ukraine's Port Cities With Cruise Missiles And Drones

Firefighters work at the site of a three-story residential building struck by a Russian missile in Mykolayiv, southern Ukraine, on July 20.

Located near the Black Sea, Mykolayiv was one of several cities targeted by missile strikes on July 20 that killed two people and injured at least 20 people, including five children, Ukrainian officials said.

Paramedics carry a woman who was injured during the Russian missile strike in Mykolayiv.

"The Russians hit the city center. A garage and a three-story residential building caught fire.... A total of 18 people were injured. Nine of them were hospitalized, including five children, while two people were rescued from under the rubble. It's a miracle that we managed to save them," regional Governor Vitaliy Kim said.

 

Firefighters worked throughout the early hours of July 20 to put out the blaze at the residential building in Mykolayiv. 

Rescue workers combed through the smoldering rubble of the residential building that was targeted in Mykolayiv. 

Russia has stepped up missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports and surrounding areas since withdrawing from a year-old U.N.-brokered deal on July 17 allowing the safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments.

A woman clears shards of glass from a shattered window that was damaged during the attack in Mykolayiv.

 

Odesa was also targeted on July 20 as a Russian missile heavily damaged an administrative building (pictured). It was the port city's third consecutive night of air strikes targeting installations, grain storage facilities, and civilian infrastructure.

Residents react near the site of the burning administrative building. Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov described the attack as "one of the worst nights ever," adding that one person was injured.

A rescue worker comforts a woman whose son's body was later found as emergency services comb through the rubble.

The mother reacts next to her son's body near a building that was heavily damaged by a Russian missile attack in central Odesa.

A father reacts next to the body of his son.

At least two people were killed and 20 people were reportedly wounded as Moscow launched air strikes on July 20, targeting the Black Sea port cities of Odesa and Mykolayiv. It was the third consecutive round of air strikes that targeted Odesa.