Russian Defense Ministry: Moscow attacked Ukrainian command post in Odessa

According to RT, on April 30, the Russian Defense Ministry announced that Ukrainian military facilities, as well as troops and equipment, were attacked by coordinated air, missile and artillery strikes.

Sputnik also reported that the Russian military carried out a missile attack on the headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in central Odessa. The coordinator of the Nikolaev underground, Sergei Lebedev, said on May 1: “The Odessa resistance reported hearing three explosions, the second of which was very powerful, in the Kulikovo Pole area, where the headquarters of the Pivden (Southern) Ukraine Operational Command is located.”

Several ambulances have been dispatched to the area, sources said. The area around Kulikovo Pole Square has been cordoned off by Ukrainian forces.

The head of the Odessa regional government, Oleg Kiper, confirmed that an attack had taken place in the city. He said it involved ballistic missiles and that at least three people had been killed. However, he insisted that only civilian infrastructure had been damaged.

On April 30, the Russian army attacked the port area of ​​the city of Chernomorsk in the Odessa region. A loud explosion was heard.

Previously, on April 29, the Russian Defense Ministry said that six US-made long-range Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) missiles had been shot down in the previous 24 hours.

Last week, a US Defense Department spokesman confirmed that the Pentagon had provided ATACMS missiles to Ukraine at President Joe Biden’s request, as part of an arms aid package announced in March. Russia has repeatedly warned the US of the risks of escalation if the arms supply continues.

In response to Kiev forces' attacks on civilian targets, the Russian military regularly conducts attacks on military targets of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Kiev's defense industry, energy, military administration, and communications infrastructure are also targets of Russian forces.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has repeatedly stressed that the Russian military does not attack civilian targets but only targets military facilities and facilities supporting Ukraine's defense activities.