A Russian drone attack on the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa has left at least two people dead and five others injured, according to regional governor Oleh Kiper. The strike caused damage to residential apartment blocks, a supermarket, and a school. Russian authorities have not commented on the incident.

Odesa Mayor Gennady Trukhanov described the attack as a “massive assault” targeting civilian infrastructure in several areas of the city. The port city, which lies on the Black Sea and has a population of about one million, has been repeatedly targeted since the beginning of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

Unverified videos circulating on social media show explosions and widespread damage across parts of Odesa.

In a separate incident later on Thursday, Russian-installed official Vladimir Saldo claimed that a Ukrainian drone strike killed seven people in Oleshky, a Russian-occupied town in Kherson region, after it allegedly hit a crowded market. However, Ukraine’s military stated it had aimed at a group of four Russian soldiers, killing two.

Meanwhile, other Ukrainian cities also came under fire. In Kharkiv, a drone reportedly struck a petrol station, while explosions were also heard in Sumy.

These developments come as the United States and Ukraine signed a major agreement to jointly develop Ukraine’s energy and mineral sectors. The deal includes the creation of a reconstruction investment fund to support Ukraine’s economic recovery.

In a potentially significant shift, Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a temporary ceasefire from 8 to 11 May, aligning with Russia’s World War Two victory commemorations. Ukraine’s Deputy Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, however, urged a longer pause in hostilities, calling for at least a 30-day ceasefire.