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DELast night, the Russian occupiers again launched a massive attack on Odesa, using various types of missiles, in particular Kalibr, Oniks, Kh-22, Iskander-K, and Iskander-M. In total, the Russians fired 19 missiles at the city. Nine of them were destroyed by air defence forces, the Operational Command “South” reports on Facebook.
At the same time, hits were recorded on the port infrastructure and at least six residential buildings, including apartment blocks. Facades and roofs in many buildings in the city were damaged, and windows were broken.
On one of the central streets of Odesa, the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) was damaged by a Russian missile. This temple is a UNESCO heritage site.
The Russian missile hit the central altar directly. As a result, the cathedral building and the three lower floors were partially destroyed, while the interior and icons were significantly damaged. The service premises of the lower part of the cathedral were completely destroyed. Immediately after the attack, a fire started, which the rescuers quickly localised and extinguished.
The House of Scientists, a monument of national importance, was also damaged.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stressed on Telegram that there would definitely be retaliation against Russian terrorists for Odesa.
“Missiles against peaceful cities, against residential buildings, a cathedral… There can be no excuse for Russian evil. As always, this evil will lose. And there will definitely be a retaliation to Russian terrorists for Odesa. They will feel this retaliation,” the Head of State said.
UNESCO also condemned the attacks on the historic centre of Odesa, affecting buildings of cultural significance. UNESCO called for a cessation of attacks against cultural property protected by widely ratified international normative instruments.
“UNESCO expresses its support to the people of Odesa and conveys its sincere condolences to the families of victims. A preliminary assessment in Odesa has revealed damage to several museums inside the World Heritage property, including the Odesa Archaeological Museum, the Odesa Maritime Museum, and the Odesa Literature Museum. They had all been marked by UNESCO and local authorities with the Blue Shield, the distinctive emblem of the 1954 Hague Convention,” the report reads.
As a reminder, Odesa has been suffering daily from Russian missile attacks for a week. Today’s attack killed at least two people and injured more than 20, including children.
Some 17 victims were hospitalised in city hospitals, including three children (a 12-year-old and two 17-year-olds). Currently, there are three injured in the city hospitals.
For reference
In August 1794, the construction site of the church in honour of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was consecrated on Odesa’s Cathedral Square, and in 1795 the first stone was laid. The solemn consecration of the church took place on 25 May 1809.
On 2 March 1932, the Soviet authorities closed the cathedral, and in 1936 they blew up both it and the bell tower. The cathedral was restored in 2005.
In 2010, Patriarch Kirill of the Russian Orthodox Church consecrated the Upper Temple of the Odesa Transfiguration Cathedral.
Many Christian shrines were kept in the temple.
Bohdan Marusyak
