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Russia launches 273 drones on Ukraine, 4 dead, 12 wounded, Odesa maternity hospital hit

Medics managed to evacuate 22 newborn babies, including twins on ventilator support, and 32 other patients to the shelter just before the attack, he said

Reuters
Published 28.03.26, 07:27 PM
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An apartment building which was damaged during overnight Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine March 28, 2026. (All images by Reuters)

Russia launched a barrage of drones in waves of attacks on Ukraine, killing four people and damaging gas production facilities, port infrastructure, residential buildings and a maternity hospital, Ukrainian officials said on Saturday.

Russian troops launched 273 drones, the Ukrainian air force said, adding that the southern Odesa region was the focus of the attacks.

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An interior view of a maternity hospital which was hit during overnight Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine March 28, 2026.
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President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said more than 60 drones were used during the Russian strikes on the city of Odesa.

"There was no military purpose whatsoever – this was pure terror against ordinary civilian life," Zelenskiy said on the Telegram app. "Sadly, there is extensive damage."

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A medical director stands inside of a maternity hospital which was hit during overnight Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine March 28, 2026.

Two killed, 12 wounded in Odesa, governor says 

Oleh Kiper, the regional governor, said two people were killed and 12, including a child, were wounded in the attacks on Odesa.

A 55-year-old energy worker was killed when Russia struck Ukraine's gas production facilities in the central Poltava region, energy company Naftogaz said.

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A medical director stands in a corridor of a maternity hospital which was hit during overnight Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine March 28, 2026.

A 28-year-old man was also killed in the industrial city of Kryvyi Rih in the Dnipropetrovsk region, the governor said.

The air force said Ukrainian air defence units had shot down 252 drones, but that 21 drones had hit targets at 18 sites.

In the Black Sea port of Odesa, the Russian attacks damaged a maternity hospital, residential buildings and port infrastructure, regional officials said.

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A rescuer works at the site of a maternity hospital which was hit during overnight Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine March 28, 2026.

Reuters television footage showed firefighters working on the site of the damaged hospital with smashed windows and a destroyed roof.

Ihor Shpak, the hospital's chief doctor, told Reuters that a powerful explosion had ripped through the building, destroying the roof, connecting structures between the fourth and third floors, and some hospital wards.

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A rescuer works at the site of a maternity hospital which was hit during overnight Russian drone strikes, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Odesa, Ukraine March 28, 2026.

Medics managed to evacuate 22 newborn babies, including twins on ventilator support, and 32 other patients to the shelter just before the attack, he said.

Olena Kudriashova, an Odesa resident, said she was scared when Shahed drones were flying towards her house.

"On the right, on the left, at the front, and at the back, windows and doors were smashed. Our little window survived, and we're so happy we made it through the night," she told Reuters outside the building with smashed windows in central Odesa. 

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