A significant drone assault by Russia on the Ukrainian city of Odesa left 23 individuals wounded, including two children and a pregnant woman, as reported by officials on Tuesday. In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy urged the United States to accelerate its efforts to halt Russia’s nearly four-year-long invasion.

Ukrainian authorities noted that the Odesa assault involved over 50 drones, some of which were recently enhanced by Russia to boost their range and destructive capability. These drones targeted the city’s power infrastructure, an area Russia has repeatedly attacked during one of the harshest winters in recent memory, and also struck five residential buildings.

“The rescue operation will persist until we determine the status of all individuals potentially trapped under the debris,” Zelenskyy communicated via the Telegram messaging platform, mentioning that an informal Protestant worship site was among the damaged structures.

“Each Russian attack further erodes diplomatic efforts, which are ongoing, and particularly impacts the initiatives of partners striving to conclude this conflict,” he remarked.

While a diplomatic initiative from the Trump administration aimed at resolving the war has shown some headway, officials highlighted that it has yet to address the critical issue of the fate of Russian-occupied Ukrainian regions and other territories claimed by Moscow.

Analysts says that Russian President Vladimir Putin is in no rush to find a settlement, despite his army’s difficulties on the roughly 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) front line. He believes that time is on his side, that Western support for Kyiv will fade and that Ukraine’s resistance will eventually break under pressure, according to analysts.

To replenish its forces and keep up the pressure on Kyiv, Moscow is offering cash bonuses, freeing convicts from prison, and luring foreigners to its army.

An Associated Press investigation found that unwitting Bangladeshi workers were enticed to Russia under the false promise of civilian work before being thrown into combat in Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said late Monday the next round of talks with the United States and Russia is penciled in for Feb. 1. but that “it would be good if this meeting could be accelerated.”

He also urged, the in the meantime, additional sanctions be imposed on Russia to compel the Kremlin to make compromises.

Russia fired 165 drones at Ukraine overnight, with 24 of them that got through air defenses hitting targets in seven regions, according to Ukraine’s air force.

Russia has been improving its drone technology and tactics, striking Ukraine with increasing success.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s main intelligence directorate said earlier this month that Russia had deployed the new jet-powered “Geran-5” strike drone against Ukraine for the first time. The Geran is a Russian variant of the Iranian-designed Shahed.

According to the directorate, the drone can carry a 90-kilogram (200-pound) warhead and has a range of nearly 1,000 kilometers (600 miles).

In response, Ukraine has significantly expanded production of interceptor drones, as well as developing its own long-range drones.

The Russian Defense Ministry said Tuesday that its air defenses shot down 19 Ukrainian drones overnight over several Russian regions.