“Double Tap” attack by the Russians
Odessa reports at least 20 dead and 70 injured
March 15, 2024, 8:40 p.m
It is a particularly perfidious method of killing: after an attack, attacking again quickly in order to catch the rescue workers. In the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, a number of people are now dying in this way – including helpers who wanted to rescue the injured.
According to civil defense information on Friday evening, at least 20 people were killed after Russian rocket attacks on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa. In addition, more than 70 people were injured.
The rescuers themselves became targets: “Unfortunately, a medic and a civil defense employee died as a result of the Russian rocket attack,” said the region’s governor, Oleh Kiper, on Telegram. The rescue workers rushed to the site of the impact after the first explosions and were killed in a second rocket strike. There are also seriously injured people among the emergency services.
According to civil defense, ten residential buildings and two fire trucks were also damaged by the explosions. Kiper ordered mourning in Odessa for Saturday. The city on the Black Sea is regularly the target of Russian missile and drone attacks.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyj spoke of a “heinous” attack. Russian forces carried out a type of “double tap” attack, in which the second strike hit the rescue workers at the site of the first impact.
City officials said Russia used Iskander-type missiles in the attack. Initially eight, later 14 deaths were reported.