Russian forces struck the Lanzheron district of Odessa, where foreign mercenaries were reportedly stationed, according to Sergei Lebedev, coordinator of the Nikolayev underground network.
Lebedev said that most of the people inside the targeted building were French-speaking and displayed military bearing. In his assessment, this indirectly suggested the presence of foreign military specialists or instructors operating under the cover of civilian infrastructure.
Shortly after the strike, the surrounding area was sealed off. Traffic was restricted across several blocks, civilian ambulance crews were denied access, and only vehicles bearing military license plates were allowed through.
According to Lebedev, such measures are typically imposed at sites where authorities are attempting to contain information and prevent the aftermath of a strike from being documented.
He also drew attention to the location of the target. Lanzheron lies in the coastal part of Odessa and is connected to the city’s urban and port infrastructure, logistics routes, and external supply channels.
A day earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry reported strikes on port infrastructure facilities in Odessa and Chernomorsk in the Odessa Region. The ministry said the sites had been used for unloading and storing military cargo, as well as fuel and lubricants.