Author: INQUIRER.net

MANILA, Philippines — Even if President Marcos resigns or the government succeeds in cracking down on corruption, this will not be enough to fix the Philippines’ deeper economic problems, an economist said, arguing that the country’s challenges are structural and require constitutional reforms.

“I don’t think it will solve the problem,” said Federation for Economic Freedom president Calixto Chikiamco, referring to certain calls for Marcos to step down amid the corruption scandal.

“As I said, our problem is structural. Who’s going to replace that person? What will they do? What kind of reforms will they do to change this? Even the military—what will they do? Will they make the same economic policy?” he added.

READ: FEF: Economic Cha-Cha ‘necessary’ but not enough

Chikiamco said a struggling economy, paired with political instability, was a “cause for concern.”

He noted that the Philippines also has a weak manufacturing base, which in 2024 accounted for only 15.7 percent of its gross domestic product—the fourth-lowest share in the East Asia and Pacific region.

He also noted how the Philippines lags behind Southeast Asian peers in terms of agriculture.

For Chikiamco, these and other issues cannot be solved by leadership changes alone.

“It’s not just a question of morality or corruption or anything. There’s something fundamentally wrong with our economy,” he said.

“Graft and corruption are not unique to the Philippines. It’s just that the magnitude has gone up. But if you want to stop it, we have to change our political and economic system,” he added.

Protectionist

At the Pilipinas Conference 2025, Chikiamco noted how the string of corruption scandals has further eroded trust in public institutions.

Restoring confidence, he said, will require a stronger political system with safeguards against corruption and turncoatism.

READ: Top economists warn vs hike in rice tariff

“If you don’t change the Constitution, I’m afraid that the problem will keep repeating itself,” he added. “We cannot rely on morality to solve our problems.”

He said this also means removing protectionist provisions in the 1987 Constitution, which he said were shaped by “Filipino-first” and “Filipino-only” policies that hamper competitiveness.

Pandora’s box

Chikiamco said charter reform should be pursued through a constitutional convention, saying that a constituent assembly would not be ideal due to the public distrust in Congress.

He proposed holding a referendum alongside the 2028 national elections.

However, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry chair George Barcelon warned that pushing for charter change while corruption investigations are ongoing could create new risks.

“I’m not against tweaking the constitution, but it’s the timing of it. We have this concern right now and, in a way, it’s a very serious situation,” he said.

“If you open up Pandora’s box on constitutional change at this time, ‘di natin masabi ‘yong mga vested interest ng mga politiko. They will take advantage of it. They will try to navigate and see how they can manipulate to their advantage,” he added.

(If you open up Pandora’s box on constitutional change at this time, we can’t foresee the vested interest of the politicians. They will take advantage of it. They will try to navigate and see how they can manipulate to their advantage.) INQ

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine economy is expected to stay below official growth targets through 2026 and may only return to its intended path in 2027, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) said, citing weather disturbances, weakening demand for services and slower government spending as a graft investigation unfolds.

If the projections hold, the country would miss its growth targets for a fourth straight year, after falling short in both 2023 and 2024, according to the highlights of the Monetary Board’s Oct. 9 policy meeting released on Thursday.

READ: Underwhelming Q3 growth souring Philippines 2025 outlook

The Marcos administration is aspiring for growth of between 5.5 and 6.5 percent for 2025 and a faster 6 to 7 percent for next year. While those targets may not be met, the BSP said the economy could return to its target range only by 2027, the penultimate year of the Marcos administration.

“Overall domestic demand may moderate based on high-frequency indicators,” the central bank said.

“In addition, ongoing controversy over flood control projects, public infrastructure spending may delay implementation and dampen investment sentiment,” it added, while noting that initiatives to prevent fiscal leakages could nevertheless boost overall budget efficiency and growth prospects over the longer term.

Last month, the Monetary Board cut the key interest rate by 25 basis points to 4.75 percent, aiming to steady business sentiment shaken by a widening probe into allegedly dubious flood control projects.

Government spending

The central bank had also warned that the corruption scandal could limit the ability of government spending to support growth. As it is, the administration is aiming to keep infrastructure investment at 5 to 6 percent of gross domestic product to help sustain economic momentum.

True enough, the state’s economic managers already acknowledged that hitting even the lower end of the government’s growth target for 2025 would be very challenging, after the economy expanded 4 percent in the third quarter, the weakest pace in four years.

READ: Our regional disparities

BSP Governor Eli Remolona Jr. earlier said another rate cut in December was “possible,” but ruled out any aggressive easing that could fuel concerns the economy is careening toward a hard landing.

Remolona added that the economy may “more than catch up” with the momentum lost by 2027, believing that the slowdown may prove to be short-lived. The pace of that rebound, he said, would determine how much further the central bank could ease policy in the months ahead.

Offshore, the central bank also flagged “lingering global uncertainty” that could temper investor sentiment. Even so, it maintained that “future monetary policy adjustments will continue to be guided by evolving risks to inflation and growth.”

“On balance, the favorable inflation outlook and moderating domestic demand provided scope for a more accommodative monetary policy stance to support economic activity,” the BSP said. INQ

MANILA, Philippines — The country’s largest crayfish nursery is now up and running in Pampanga. This marks a significant step in positioning the Philippines as a major player in the global aquaculture industry.

The 1,280-square meter facility in Candaba will mass-produce Australian Redclaw crayfish (Cherax quadricarinatus). It is a high-value species sought for its rapid growth, hardiness and strong market demand.

Investing in the nursery are local firm Farm Fresh Early Catch Inc. headed by former Candaba mayor Jerry Pelayo and Taiwanese company Da Shin Biotech Ltd. The Department of Agriculture’s Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (DA-BFAR) provides support.

READ: DA to roll out digital hub for food ecosystem

“Crayfish offers a protein source that is nutrient-rich, low-impact, and requires minimal feed,” the DA said in a statement on Friday.

The hub will provide supply to Farm Fresh’s existing three-hectare grow-out ponds. These currently produce 30 tons of market-size crayfish annually. It will also support partner growers as the industry continues to expand.

The crayfish hub houses 16 tanks capable of producing 48,000 fry every two weeks. It uses water-recycling technology in Philippine crayfish nurseries, reducing wastewater and conserving freshwater.

Large-scale rollout

Next year, Farm Fresh plans to implement a large-scale rollout of grow-out operations. This will be across 1,500 hectares in Luzon and 750 hectares each in the Visayas and Mindanao.

The planned sites are expected to produce more than 1,200 tons of crayfish every six months. This positions the Philippines as a serious contender in regional and global markets.

In his speech delivered by Agriculture Assistant Secretary Arnel de Mesa, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said crayfish farming “opens new doors for our fisherfolk—bringing in more income, more livelihood and more food on our tables.”

READ: Have you ever had crayfish?

Given BFAR’s strict guidelines aimed at protecting native aquatic life, Tiu Laurel said each pond must also nurture care, discipline and respect for the balance of the country’s ecosystems.

“Built through the partnership of Farm Fresh Early Catch Inc., Da Shin Biotech and the DA-BFAR, this nursery shows that when government, private innovators and fisherfolk come together, progress stops being a dream—it becomes our shared reality,” he said.

The project is expected to create more than 3,000 direct jobs and spur new enterprises across farming communities. INQ

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Justice (DOJ) has indicated two companies and their executives for allegedly soliciting unlicensed investments from the public through a sham e-commerce platform, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

The corporate watchdog said on Friday that state prosecutors found prima facie evidence to charge New Seataoo Corp. and Seataoo Information Technology OPC for violating the Securities Regulation Code.

Likewise, the DOJ recommended filing 54 counts of violation of Section 26 of the SRC that prohibits the use of lies, deceit and fraud to sell securities.

READ: JRL Kwarta Trading fined for illegal investment schemes

Also indicted were New Seataoo CEO Widiana Chen, project manager Dylan Lim and directors Anna Rose Jangao Tero, Jonathan Tuazon Garcia, Danny Tuazon Sudaria, Lew Yean Yee and Seow Kai Sheng.

Seataoo OPC’s single stockholder, Jayson Corono Clidoro, was also indicted.Based on its Oct. 22 resolution, prosecutors upheld the SEC’s findings in its complaint filed in January that Seatoo group offered investment contracts through its e-commerce platform without securing the necessary secondary license.

The SEC earlier said that the companies had used YouTube and Facebook to operate their scheme, with investors shelling out as much as P2.3 million due to the promise of “guaranteed returns” of 7 to 12 percent without doing any genuine selling activity.

This thus resembled an illegal Ponzi scheme wherein profits provided to investors were derived from contributions given by new participants rather than actual business activities.

READ: In Koronadal, SEC alerts public vs firm inviting investors sans license

“Respondents misrepresented their companies as a legitimate e-commerce platform when, in truth, there was no inventory, no supplier arrangements and no real product movement,” the DOJ said.

“The system merely simulated transactions and internally rotated funds, creating the false appearance of a functioning business. The totality of these acts constitutes a deliberate and systematic scheme to defraud the public,” it added. INQ

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine government has secured 22.6 million euros, or about P1.5 billion, in funding from the European Union (EU). This is intended to support the country’s transition to advanced technologies.

Bulk of the package is a 20- million-euro contribution from the EU itself. There are also 2 million euros from Finland and 600,000 euros from France.

The fund will cover expenses related to digital technologies related to 5G telecommunications, cybersecurity solutions, artificial intelligence (AI) in earth observation and improved digital connectivity.

READ: Supreme Court eyes AI work on legal documents

Among the key components of the package is the high-speed and real-time application of AI to earth observation data. This is through the EU Copernicus Philippines program. It is expected to help develop smart solutions for disaster risk reduction, environmental monitoring, food security and infrastructure mapping.

“This will allow the government to better prepare for natural disasters, respond faster in times of crisis and provide immediate relief to Filipino families. And we need this now more than ever,” newly appointed Finance Secretary Frederick Go said in a statement.

Policy support for 5G technology is aimed at improving international and national digital connectivity. This, while strengthening cybersecurity measures for critical infrastructure and services.

EU and Philippine universities that are focused on science and technological research and innovation are also set to collaborate.

READ: Southeast Asia seen as growth hub for EU firms

Spearheading the projects are the Philippine Space Agency and Department of Science and Technology. Department of Information and Communications Technology and the Office of Civil Defense are also involved.

The digital economy package is part of the EU’s Global Gateway initiative. This is a strategy to boost smart, clean and secure connections in digital, energy, transport, health and education sectors across the world. INQ

MANILA, Philippines — The government’s drive for agencies to adopt cashless payments helped a 36-percent surge in digital transactions made through the Land Bank of the Philippines.

The state-owned bank recorded P3.14 trillion worth of digital transactions in the first nine months of 2025. This was achieved through half a billion transactions across its major digital platforms.

The volume of transactions jumped 27 percent year-on-year. Landbank processed over 550 million online transactions across its 10 platforms during the period.

Such a growth coincided with efforts to expand financial access, particularly in geographically isolated and disadvantaged areas.

READ: LANDBANK streamlines digital agri lending with AGRISENSO Plus

“Innovation, at its heart, must make people’s lives easier—more connected, more secure and more inclusive,” Landbank executive vice president Leila Martin said in a statement.

“Landbank’s digital transformation began with that principle. We modernized our systems not just to compete, but to serve our people better,” Martin said.

The bulk of the transactions went through Landbank’s mobile banking app, which recorded P418.4 billion from 492 million transactions. This is a 38-percent increase in value and 26 percent in volume year-on-year.

Gains in the weAccess platform, Landbank’s digital channel for institutional clients, pushed transaction value to P1.29 trillion. This was driven largely by a surge in ATM payroll disbursements that hit P266.71 billion from 26.95 million transactions.

Meanwhile, the online retail banking channel iAccess processed 2.59 million transactions worth P11.89 billion.

Also, the web-based payment platform Link.BizPortal handled 6.76 million transactions totaling P12.27 billion.

For far-flung areas

Further, the LANDBANKasama Program for far-flung areas logged P11.68 billion through 2.38 million transactions.

Government agencies likewise increased their reliance on Landbank systems. The Electronic Modified Disbursement System processed P1.14 trillion in payouts for 3.63 million transactions.

READ: UP, Landbank offer financial aid to 2026 Upcat passers

A total of P132.93 billion from 554,151 transactions was recorded in the bank’s alternative tax payment facility.

The Bureau of Internal Revenue’s VAT Digital Services Portal, which was just launched this year, generated P1.93 billion.

Batch disbursements through the bulk credit system amounted to P52.37 billion after making 6.08 million transactions.

Lastly, the remittance system garnered P58.26 billion from 650,203 transactions. INQ

MANILA, Philippines — When we think of transporting agricultural goods to a separate island, we think of ships. But in many cases, barges are far better in our archipelago, says Danilo Fausto, president of the Philippine Chamber of Agriculture and Food, Inc. (PCAFI).

Fausto is a finance expert, a very successful grower of livestock and crops, and has shown exceptional leadership. He led PCAFI so well that it now has 52 different agriculture subsectors. When asked to explain why barges are critical to agriculture, Fausto said the following:

Our terrain

“The fundamental problem of Philippine agriculture is geography. While economists call for trade liberalization and increased competitiveness for our agriculture sector, they seem to fail to consider that we don’t have a level playing field in order to compete effectively.

“Our Asean (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) neighbors and trading partners have contiguous land areas, except Indonesia. The Philippines is a nation separated by 7,641 islands, with 2,000 islands that are inhabited and 5,000 islands more to be named.

READ: Razon’s ICTSI boosts Cavite Gateway operations

“To be competitive, we submit that we need to connect these islands together to reduce costs and solve logistics and supply chain problems, not by the costly roll-on roll-off ship (ro-ro) that can accommodate around 10 to 15 delivery trucks as the supply vehicle between islands.

We should use container barges, which can load up to 100 containers, relieving our ro-ro ships of 200 trucks back and forth per day and long lines of waiting between ports.”

Access to logistics

“The common denominator among agriculture export powerhouses like Thailand and Vietnam is easy access to container logistics that reach all the way to the farms. In the Philippines, this capability is also partly present in Davao and Cagayan de Oro, where the export farms are served well by nearby container ports,” Fausto said.

“We, therefore, recommend the government invest in container barge terminals to facilitate a more seamless flow of commodities, which could  lower food prices. The project is ideal for underutilized ports situated among the country’s key food-producing islands

“Out of the 15 major islands, 10 could be identified for having limited access to modern container logistics. These are the islands of Basilan, Bohol, Busuanga, Catanduanes, Leyte, Marinduque, Masbate, Mindoro, Palawan and Samar.  They represent almost 20 percent of the Philippine land mass.

“These islands often face challenges in accessing critical inputs such as animal feeds, fertilizers and chemicals, as well as transporting their produce that could serve as raw materials. Also, the modern container logistics are essential not only for production inputs, but also for export markets.”

Pilot

“We can pilot the project in Samar to address the supply bottlenecks caused by the ongoing rehabilitation of the San Juanico bridge, which connects the province to Leyte. Estimated to cost  P100 million, the government can opt to overhaul the underutilized San Isidro Ferry Port in Northern Samar for the project. The port will be equipped with a combination of forklifts and reach stackers that could move 20-foot containers to and from landing craft tanks. At a throughput of 100 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) in and 100 TEUs out per day, the container logistics project will take out up to 200 truck movements per day from the congested Matnog and Amandayehan sea crossings.

READ: Duterte opens new port seen to reduce need for trucks

“San Isidro port is 130 nautical miles away from Cebu and 150 nautical miles from Iloilo, which need additional supplies of food. They also serve as transshipment points for food exports. The project will facilitate easier inbound movement of key items like rice, canned goods and animal feed and fertilizer to Samar. This will allow better outbound movement of raw materials like fresh or dehusked coconut for processing, banana, coffee and ube.

“Apart from easier inbound and outbound of key commodities, this will also benefit nearby ports in Cebu and Iloilo, which serve as transshipment points for exports. In addition,  the government can also pilot the container logistics project in Palawan by expanding Brooke’s Point port and Mindoro through Calapan and Abra de Ilog ports, with investments of P250 million and P50 million, respectively. This mode of logistics is like the extensive river barge trade in the US and in Europe,  but these are adapted to open water.”

With Fausto’s valuable insights, area feasibility studies should immediately be made. This strategic move may be a true game-changer for our delayed agricultural development.

The author is Agriwatch chair, former secretary of presidential flagship programs and projects,  and former undersecretary of the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Trade and Industry. Contact is  [email protected]

MANILA, Philippines — The Figaro Culinary Group, Inc. (FGC) is creating a separate entity to operate its Angel’s Pizza business independently.

In a disclosure on Friday, FGC said its board “unanimously approved” a plan to implement a corporate restructuring that involves the well-known pizza brand.

Under this plan, Angel’s Pizza’s related assets of its subsidiary, Figaro Coffee Systems Inc., will be transferred to Angel’s Pizza Inc. (API) in exchange for shares in the latter.

READ: Figaro bets on ‘pizza’ amid crunch from smaller cafes

The listed firm created API for this particular purpose.

“Following the completion of the planned corporate restructuring, API will own and operate the Angel’s Pizza business while [Figaro Coffee] will wholly own API,” FGC said.

FGC said the corporate restructuring is expected to happen in 2026, subject to the necessary corporate and regulatory approvals.

As part of this effort, the FGC board authorized the chair or president “to vote on the shares of the company in FCSI, to approve the planned corporate restructuring and such related transactions…”

Incorporated in 2018, FCG is primarily engaged in the processing, manufacturing and packaging all kinds of food products. It is also into establishing, investing, developing, operating and maintaining restaurants, coffee shops and refreshments parlors, among others.

READ: Figaro forges strategic partnerships to promote sustainable food security

As of this month, the Figaro Group operates 56 Figaro coffee shops and 157 Angel’s Pizza outlets. It also has eight Tien Ma’s Taiwanese cuisine restaurants and one Koobideh Kebabs.

FGC reported a net income of P101.06 million in the three months ending September, down 2 percent year-on-year.

Revenues rose by 9 percent to P1.52 billion, mainly on account of Angel’s Pizza operations. INQ

MANILA, Philippines — Philippine health maintenance organizations (HMOs) tripled their aggregate profit in the third quarter of 2025. This was attributed to stronger premium collections that offset the impact of higher health-care claims and payouts.

Data from the Insurance Commission (IC) showed that the HMO industry’s net income for the January-September period surged by 204.8 percent to P2.44 billion. This came from P800.9 million in the same period last year.

READ: HMO profitability boosted by entry of gov’t workers

Total revenues for the sector jumped 22.5 percent to P73.12 billion. This was largely driven by P71.13 billion in membership fee collections.

Expenses rose 20 percent to P70.63 billion, mostly due to claims and health-care benefits totaling P54.96 billion. However, revenue growth outpaced the rise in costs, boosting net income.

READ: Marikina lawmaker suggests using HMOs to serve PhilHealth beneficiaries

“The HMO industry delivered a commendable performance this quarter, as the majority of the companies demonstrated stronger profitability and wider market reach,” IC Commissioner Reynaldo Regalado said in a statement.

“These developments reflect the sustained growth and strengthened financial position of the HMO industry, providing a promising foundation for further innovation, more effective regulation and improved delivery of accessible and reliable health care,” Regalado said. INQ

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine is at a pivotal point in its four-year fight to defeat Russia’s invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an address to the nation Friday, with Ukrainians potentially facing a choice between standing up for their sovereign rights or losing American support as leaders negotiate a U.S. peace proposal.

The U.S. plan contains many of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s longstanding demands while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine. It foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia, something Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out, reduces the size of its army and blocks its coveted path to NATO membership.

Zelenskyy pledged to hold constructive discussions with Washington at what he called “truly one of the most difficult moments in our history.” Zelenskyy said he spoke for almost an hour Friday with U.S. Vice President JD Vance and Army Secretary Dan Driscoll about the peace proposal.

READ:  Ukraine capital under ‘massive’ attack – Kyiv mayor

U.S. President Donald Trump in a radio interview on Friday said that he wants an answer from Zelenskyy on his 28-point plan by Thursday, but says an extension is possible to finalize terms.

“I’ve had a lot of deadlines, but if things are working well, you tend to extend the deadlines,” Trump said in an interview on the Brian Kilmeade Show on Fox News Radio. “But Thursday is it — we think an appropriate time.”

While Zelenskyy has offered to negotiate with the U.S. and Russia, he signaled Ukraine may not get everything it wants and has to confront the possibility of losing American support if it makes a stand.

“Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest,” Zelenskyy said in a recorded speech. “Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner.”

“We will work calmly with America and all partners,” he said, but insisted on fair treatment.

He urged Ukrainians to “stop fighting” each other, in a possible reference to a major corruption scandal that has brought fierce criticism of the government, and said peace talks next week “will be very difficult.”

Europe says it will keep supporting Ukraine

Zelenskyy spoke earlier by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials scrambled to respond to the U.S. proposals that apparently caught them unawares.

Wary of antagonizing Trump, the European and Ukrainian responses were cautiously worded and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelenskyy of “their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace” in Ukraine, Merz’s office said.

The four leaders welcomed U.S. efforts to end the war. “In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees,” the statement added.

The line of contact must be the departure point for an agreement, they said, and “the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively.”

Starmer said the right of Ukraine to “determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle.”

Existential threat to Europe

European countries see their own futures at stake in Ukraine’s fight against the Russian invasion and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

“Russia’s war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends matters,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels. “Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide.”

Trump in his radio interview pushed back against the notion that the settlement, which offers plentiful concessions to Russia, would embolden Putin to carry out further malign action on his European neighbors.

“He’s not thinking of more war,” Trump said of Putin. “He’s thinking punishment. Say what you want. I mean, this was supposed to be a one-day war that has been four years now.”

A European government official said that the U.S. plans weren’t officially presented to Ukraine’s European backers.

Many of the proposals are “quite concerning,” the official said, adding that a bad deal for Ukraine would also be a threat to broader European security.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the plan publicly.

European Council President Antonio Costa in Johannesburg said of the U.S. proposals: “The European Union has not been communicated (about) any plans in (an) official manner.”

Ukraine examines the proposals

Ukrainian officials said they were weighing the U.S. proposals, and Zelenskyy said he expected to talk to Trump about it in coming days.

The Kremlin offered a reserved reaction, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that Moscow has not officially received the U.S. proposal.

“We’re seeing some innovations. But officially, we haven’t received anything. And there hasn’t been a substantive discussion of these points,” Peskov told reporters without elaborating further.

He claimed U.S.-Russian diplomatic contacts are “ongoing,” but “nothing substantive is currently being discussed.”

A U.S. team began drawing up the plan soon after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The official added that Umerov agreed to most of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.

However, Umerov on Friday denied that version of events. He said he only organized meetings and prepared the talks.

He said technical talks between the U.S. and Ukraine were continuing in Kyiv.

“We are thoughtfully processing the partners’ proposals within the framework of Ukraine’s unchanging principles — sovereignty, people’s security, and a just peace,” he said.

Russian glide bomb hits Ukraine homes

Meanwhile, a Russian glide bomb slammed into a residential district in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing five people, officials said Friday, as Moscow’s forces continued to hammer civilian areas of Ukraine. The overnight attack also injured 10 people, including a teenage girl.

The powerful glide bomb damaged some high-rise apartment blocks for the third time since the war began and also wrecked a local market, according to the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov.

A Russian drone assault on the southern city of Odesa also struck a residential area during the night, injuring five people, including a 16-year-old boy.