Eight killed in Russian drone attack on Odesa, Kyiv says it could have been avoided if the West had sent aid

(Patria) - A Russian drone attack that killed a newborn and a two-year-old on Saturday could have been avoided if Ukraine had not faced delays in weapons deliveries, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said, Reuters reported.

"When lives are lost and partners simply play internal political games or disputes, limiting our defence, it is impossible to understand," Zelenskiy said.

As rescue services released images of bodies pulled from the rubble of a residential block in the southern port city of Odesa, he used his nightly address to deliver a strong message to his new army commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, who replaced Valery Zaluzhny.

"The supreme commander has carte blanche for personnel changes in the army, in the headquarters, for any changes," Zelenskiy said. He said he expects a "detailed report and concrete proposals for further changes" from Syrskyi when he returns from the front early this week.
Rescuers pulled eight bodies from the rubble and were still searching for others late into the night. Zelenskiy earlier said that an Iranian-supplied Shahed drone had destroyed eighteen apartments in one residential block.

Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said the adults killed included three men aged 35, 40 and 54 and two women aged 31 and 73. Eight people were wounded, including a three-year-old girl.

Zelenskiy said Russian attacks using Shahed drones "have no military sense" and were intended only to kill and intimidate. "The world knows that terror can be countered," he said. "Delaying the delivery of weapons to Ukraine, air defence systems to protect our people, unfortunately leads to such losses," he added.
He identified the youngest victims as four-month-old Tymofiy and two-year-old Mark.
Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said the newborn was found dead next to his mother and posted a photo of a rescuer next to a blood-stained blanket.
Ukraine's State Emergency Service released photos showing a dead child being placed in a body bag by rescuers.

"This is impossible to forget. This is impossible to forgive," the statement said, adding that five people, including one child, were rescued alive.