According to the governor of Odesa region, a drone strike by Russia resulted in the death of one individual and destruction of port facilities on Thursday.

According to Oleh Kiper, Odesa was assaulted for a duration of two hours. He also stated that although the air defenses successfully intercepted the majority of the Russian drones, a few of them were able to evade and penetrate the defenses.

The victim was identified as a truck driver and the drone attack caused damage to a warehouse, elevator, and trucks near the Danube River.

The military of Ukraine reported that Russia used 18 drones to attack the cities of Odesa in the south and Khmelnytskyi in the west.

According to the military, the Ukrainian air defense successfully took down 15 out of the 18 drones.

U.S. aid

On Wednesday, Republican legislators in the United States Senate prevented the approval of $110 billion in assistance for both Ukraine and Israel, along with certain security measures for the southern border of the U.S.

President Joe Biden requested approximately $106 billion from Congress to cover expenses related to the wars and border security.

On Wednesday, the vote was 49 in favor and 51 against, meaning the measure did not receive the necessary 60 votes to move forward.

Senator Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader, urged his fellow party members to decline the Ukraine assistance proposal due to its lack of policy alterations, a longstanding point of contention among lawmakers.

On Wednesday, Biden urged Congress to provide additional military assistance to Ukraine. He stated that not passing this aid would be the biggest advantage for Russian President Vladimir Putin in his two-year-long conflict with Ukraine.

Simultaneously, the United States Department of Defense declared additional support for Ukraine’s security. This marks the 52nd provision of equipment to Ukraine by the Biden administration since August 2021. The aid package includes air defense capabilities, artillery ammunition, anti-tank weapons, and other equipment.

According to the Pentagon and State Department, the military aid package totaling $175 million consists of guided missiles for the High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS), anti-armor systems, and high-speed anti-radiation missiles.

Addressing the media at the White House, the American leader stated that should Putin triumph over Ukraine, it would not end there. He warned that Moscow may also invade neighboring NATO nations, which the U.S. has a legal obligation to protect.

Biden stated that in the event of an attack on NATO, American troops would engage in combat with Russian troops. He emphasized the need to prevent Putin from emerging victorious.

In a statement, Biden highlighted the importance of providing Ukraine with additional aid as a strategic investment in our national security. This support plays a crucial role in preventing a larger conflict in the region and deterring potential acts of aggression elsewhere.

Certain Republican members of both the Senate and House of Representatives have stated that they will not authorize the provision of extra aid to Ukraine unless more rigorous border controls are put in place at the U.S.-Mexico border, including measures to prevent all illegal immigration.

Biden stated that he advocates for practical solutions to address the issues at the border and repair the flawed immigration system. He also urged for a compromise with opposing Republicans, rather than unconditionally agreeing to the closure of the border, which is one of the requests made by certain Republicans.

The president stated that the Republican party must choose between a political resolution or a genuine resolution. He emphasized the importance of reaching a compromise.

The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters provided some of the information for this story.