Russian Missile Attack on Central Ukraine Kills One Person, Wounds Nine

A view of Odessa seaport (archive - Reuters).
A view of Odessa seaport (archive - Reuters).
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Russian Missile Attack on Central Ukraine Kills One Person, Wounds Nine

A view of Odessa seaport (archive - Reuters).
A view of Odessa seaport (archive - Reuters).

A Russian missile attack on the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih killed a 47-year-old woman and wounded at least nine other people, Dnipropetrovsk regional governor Serhiy Lysak said on Wednesday.
The attack also damaged an infrastructure facility, high-rise apartment buildings, administrative buildings, a shop and an educational facility, he added in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
Kryvyi Rih, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's home town, has been a frequent target since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Reuters said.
The overnight attack followed US-Ukraine talks in Saudi Arabia where Kyiv said it was ready to support Washington's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Russia.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would now take the offer to Russia, and the ball is in Moscow's court.
The air force said Russia used three missiles to attack Kryvyi Rih and the Black Sea port of Odesa, in addition to sending 133 drones to attack the country overnight.
In Odesa, the missile strike on port infrastructure killed four Syrians and wounded a Ukrainian and a Syrian citizen, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on Telegram.
The attack damaged the Barbados-flagged "MJ PINA" vessel that was loading wheat for export to Algeria, according to Kuleba, as well as another vessel and grain storage facilities.
Lysak said the overnight attack on the city of Dnipro also wounded one person and damaged infrastructure, enterprises and around 10 private homes, causing fires which have mostly been put out.



Ben-Gvir Returns to Netanyahu's Government  

Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)
Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)
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Ben-Gvir Returns to Netanyahu's Government  

Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)
Israeli National Security Minister and head of Jewish Power party Itamar Ben-Gvir gives a statement to members of the press, ahead of a possible ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, in Jerusalem, January 16, 2025. (Reuters)

An Israeli government statement on Wednesday said Itamar Ben-Gvir, leader of the ultranationalist Jewish Power party, regained his portfolio as national security minister.

He had left the coalition in January to protest the ceasefire with Hamas.

His return strengthens Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s coalition ahead of a crucial budget vote this month and improves its chances of surviving until the next scheduled elections in October 2026.

Ben-Gvir supports the full resumption of the war with the aim of annihilating Hamas, depopulating Gaza through what he refers to as the voluntary migration of Palestinians and rebuilding Jewish settlements there.