--- title: "Odessa under attack: series of jet drone strikes on Epicenter shopping center and residential area of Usatovo" description: "🚨 In Odessa, a series of jet drone strikes: Epicenter shopping center and residential houses in Usatovo destroyed. 7 people injured, including Nova Poshta employees. The enemy is using fast drones, reducing time for shelter. #Odessa #War #UAV" date: 2026-08-16T14:50:58.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/odessa-under-attack-series-of-jet-drone-strikes-on-epicenter-shopping-center-and-residential-area-of-usatovo tags: [ukraine-war, odessa, epitsentr, novaya-pochta, drones, russia-ukraine-conflict] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Odessa under attack: series of jet drone strikes on Epicenter shopping center and residential area of Usatovo ![Odessa under attack: series of jet drone strikes on Epicenter shopping center and residential area of Usatovo](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/16/odessa-attack-epitsentr-usatovo-reactive-drones/odessa-attack-epitsentr-usatovo-reactive-drones-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Russia attacked Odessa with jet drones, striking the Epicenter shopping center and the village of Usatovo. - The Nova Poshta warehouse was destroyed in the shopping center, 4 employees injured. - In Usatovo, two houses were destroyed, three residents injured, one in critical condition. - The use of fast drones reduces response time for air defense and civilian shelter. On Sunday, August 16, 2026, the Odessa region became the target of a large-scale aerial attack by the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. During the operation, the enemy used high-speed jet unmanned aerial vehicles, striking critical civilian infrastructure and residential areas in the suburbs of Odessa. ### Strike on the logistics hub at the "Epicenter" shopping center The first and most destructive strike hit the territory of the "Epicenter" construction hypermarket, located at the entrance to the city (7th kilometer area). According to verified data and published footage, the target of the attack was the premises where the warehouse and cargo department of the logistics company "Nova Poshta" were located. The blast wave caused colossal damage to the building: external facade panels were blown out, the loading ramp was completely destroyed, and the adjacent area was littered with insulation debris and construction waste. In the background, the sign of the garden center is clearly visible, confirming the accuracy of the hit on a civilian object. ### Human casualties and injuries According to the latest data from the head of the Odessa Regional Military Administration, Oleksandr Kiper, and the "Odessa" Operational Headquarters, four civilians were injured as a result of the attack on the shopping center. All of them are employees of the enterprise and were hospitalized with severe injuries. Among the injured are a 42-year-old woman and three men aged between 32 and 43. Doctors diagnosed them with multiple shrapnel wounds, burns, and injuries sustained from the impact of the blast wave. [](/en/images/odessa-under-attack-series-of-jet-drone-strikes-on-epicenter-shopping-center-and-residential-area-of-usatovo-2) ### Second strike: destruction in the village of Usatovo Some time after the attack on the shopping center, Russian forces launched a second strike aimed at the residential sector. A jet drone hit the village of Usatovo in the Odessa district. As a result of the attack, two private residential houses were completely destroyed, and several other buildings sustained critical damage. [](/en/images/odessa-under-attack-series-of-jet-drone-strikes-on-epicenter-shopping-center-and-residential-area-of-usatovo-3) Rescuers evacuated three injured civilians from under the rubble. One of the injured is in critical condition; doctors are fighting for his life after sustaining severe injuries, including traumatic amputation of limbs. ### Analysis: tactics of speed terror Military experts and analysts note the systematic nature of attacks on retail and logistics facilities ("Epicenter", "Nova Poshta"). This indicates Russia's strategy to paralyze internal supply and Ukraine's economic stability. A key feature of this wave of attacks was the use of modified jet drones. Unlike standard models, jet drones can reach speeds of up to 500 km/h. The sound of their operation resembles that of an airplane or missile, which significantly reduces the response time from the moment the alarm is sounded to the moment of impact, leaving civilians with minimal time to seek shelter. ### Contradictory data There are discrepancies in the details of the attack in open sources. While official data from the Regional Military Administration records 4 injured in the shopping center and 3 in Usatovo, some independent sources reported possible casualties among warehouse staff in the first hours after the attack. At present, information about fatalities in the shopping center has not been confirmed by the official headquarters, however, the status of one of the injured in Usatovo remains critical, leaving the possibility of a fatal outcome. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Shopping center destroyed and people killed: Russia massively attacked Ukraine with missiles and drones, still in the sky ...](https://tsn.ua/ru/ukrayina/tts-unichtozhen-i-ubitye-lyudi-rf-massirovanno-atakovala-ukrainu-raketami-i-bpla-v-nebe-do-sih-por-ugroza-karta-3147074.html) - Подтверждает факт атаки на ТЦ и использование БПЛА. - [Vladimir Solovyov fell into the epicenter of a Ukrainian drone attack on the "Novorossiya" highway](https://svpressa.ru/war21/news/524097/) - Подтверждено по источнику svpressa.ru ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: How many people were injured as a result of the attack on the Epicenter shopping center? **A:** According to official data, four civilian employees were hospitalized. ### Q: What was the target of the attack in the village of Usatovo? **A:** Private residential houses were hit in the village of Usatovo, two of which were completely destroyed. ### Q: What drones were used in the attack? **A:** The enemy used modified jet drones with a speed of up to 500 km/h.