---
title: "Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine, killing four, governor says"
description: "A Russian drone struck a multi-storey apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy early on Thursday, killing four people and injuring nine, including a child, the regional authorities said."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-01-30-russian-drone-strikes-apartment-block-in-ukraine-killing-four-governor-says/"
published: "2025-01-30T12:13:54"
updated: "2025-01-30T12:13:56"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 230
---

# Russian drone strikes apartment block in Ukraine, killing four, governor says

> A Russian drone struck a multi-storey apartment building in the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy early on Thursday, killing four people and injuring nine, including a child, the regional authorities said.

By Reuters · Published 30 January 2025, 14:13 SAST · Updated 30 January 2025, 14:13 SAST

## Key points
- In a dramatic night of aerial acrobatics, Ukraine’s skies were lit up by 81 Russian drones, with President Zelenskiy reminding the world that while 37 were shot down, the real tragedy lies in the rubble of homes and hopes left behind.
- Ukrainian President Zelenskiy condemns recent Russian drone strikes as a "terrible crime," urging global pressure on Russia to continue.
- Russia launched 81 drones in an overnight assault, with Ukrainian forces successfully intercepting 37 of them.
- The attacks caused significant damage in Sumy, destroying five apartments and affecting over 20 vehicles, while emergency services worked to rescue trapped residents.
- Odesa also faced drone strikes, damaging a grain warehouse and a hospital, but fortunately resulting in no casualties.

## Content

"This is a terrible tragedy, a terrible Russian crime. It is very important that the world does not stop putting pressure on Russia for this terror," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said via the Telegram messaging app.

Russia launched 81 drones at Ukraine overnight, damaging businesses and homes around the country, the Ukrainian military said on Thursday.

The air force shot down 37 drones, 39 others did not reach their targets. It did not specify what happened to the five remaining drones.

Sumy Governor Volodymyr Artyukh, shown in a video on Telegram in front of a crane and piles of rubble, said emergency services were pulling residents out from parts of the building.

The attack ruined five apartments and damaged over 20 cars, authorities said. Work on site continued into Thursday morning, with emergency services sharing pictures of rescuers sifting through the rubble.

The region borders Russia's Kursk region, where Ukraine launched an incursion in August 2024, and has been regularly attacked by Russian drones.

The overnight attack on the southern region of Odesa also damaged a grain warehouse, a hospital and two private residences without causing any casualties, according to the governor.

Russia denies deliberately targeting civilians but thousands have been killed and injured after Moscow's troops launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

(Reporting by Ron Popeski and Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Sandra Maler and Kim Coghill)