I was caught in a Russian attack on Odesa last night

Askold Krushelnycky was asleep when Shahed drones reduced his hotel to rubble, illustrating the brutality of Russia's relentless attacks on Ukraine as talks grind on

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In the early hours of yesterday morning, I was at the receiving end of one of the deadly Russian mass drone attacks that regularly terrorise Ukrainian cities.

Much of my hotel near the centre of the Black Sea port city of Odesa was wrecked when Shahed drones hit close by, setting buildings opposite ablaze and blowing out walls, shattering windows and collapsing ceilings where I was staying.

I had slept through the sirens warning of an approaching attack and was wrenched out of my slumber by the first enormous explosion, which blew out windows in my room in the Hotel Alarus at around 2.20am.

As I hurriedly pulled on clothes and boots, drones came diving in on their final approach, emitting a shrill, otherworldly scream like that of German Stuka dive bombers in movies about the Second World War.

Twice, I hit the floor in the space between my bed and the bathroom wall the furthest point in my room from the outside.

During these seconds that seemed like an age, I felt utterly helpless and mouthed: "Fuck, fuck, fuck! Just get it over with." As more drones kept coming, I got to the basement shelter and joined 11 staff and guests there in the dark. People, some in nighties, some barefoot, mostly sat silently with a few faces dimly lit by screens as they scanned smartphones for any news.

Locals had an app showing the approach of missiles or drones around Odesa. Some cried while others covered their ears or pulled friends close as tension mounted, waiting for an explosion.

Some of the explosions blew out the hotel's glass front doors and seemed to search us out, sending showers of broken glass down the basement stairs.