Serhii Smolientsev/Portal
A view shows the Transfiguration Cathedral damaged during a Russian missile attack during the Russian attack on Ukraine in Odessa, Ukraine July 23, 2023. Portal/Serhii Smolientsev
CNN –
Russian missiles severely damaged a historic Orthodox cathedral in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odessa, sparking outrage and prompting President Zelenskyy to swear retaliation.
At least one person was killed and several others injured in the attacks, Ukrainian officials said. This is the latest in a wave of attacks on Odessa. The attacks also destroyed other historical buildings, Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture said.
The Transfiguration Cathedral is Odessa’s largest church building. It was consecrated in 1809, destroyed in 1936 during the Soviet era and rebuilt after Ukraine’s independence.
The cathedral is located in the city center of Odessa, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in view of the threat of Russian invasion.
A video showed the interior of the cathedral littered with debris. Ukrainian officials said the icon of the city’s patron saint was pulled out from under the rubble.
Odessa is an important cultural center and has long ties with Russia. Founded under Catherine the Great, it was once Russia’s second busiest port.
Jae C Hong/AP
Church officials examine damage inside Odessa’s Transfiguration Cathedral.
Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP/Getty Images
The house of scientists after the rocket attack in Odessa.
The Task Force of Ukraine said on Telegram that “dozens of cars were damaged, facades and roofs of many buildings in the city were damaged and windows were broken” during the strikes.
“Several craters have formed in the city. There are power outages that can disrupt traffic and the route of public transport may change.”
Julia Gorodetska, a Ukrainian journalist involved in the night’s attacks, wrote on her Facebook account that her house was left “shaking and shaking.”
“It’s loud. Powerful. I jumped up like a mountain goat and ran into the corridor. Nothing hurts anymore, there is no depression. I really want to live,” she described the moment the explosions hit.
Russia’s Defense Ministry denied targeting the cathedral and said it carried out attacks where “terrorist attacks” were being prepared. “All targets intended for attack have been destroyed,” the statement said.
Ukraine struggled to repel a wave of Russian attacks on Odessa over the past week as its air defenses were no match for the types of missiles Moscow was firing at the region.
In a statement on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned Moscow’s latest attack.
“Missiles against peaceful cities, against residential buildings, a cathedral… There is no excuse for Russian evil,” said Zelenskyy. “As always, this evil will lose and there will definitely be retaliation against Russian terrorists for Odessa. You will feel that retribution,” he said.
Serhii Smolientsev/Portal
Odessa has been targeted several times this week.
“I am grateful to everyone who helps people and everyone who is with Odessa in thoughts and feelings. We’ll get through this. We will restore peace. And for that we must defeat the Russian evil.”
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted: “Russia has already damaged hundreds of cultural sites and is trying to destroy Ukraine.”
Elsewhere, local military commanders reported at least two fatalities in nighttime Russian attacks in the Kharkiv region, including a 57-year-old woman and a 45-year-old man killed by shelling in Dvorichna district.
“Over the past day, the enemy has massively shelled settlements in Kharkiv, Chuhuiv, Kupyansk and Isium districts with artillery, mortars and planes,” Oleh Syniehubov, head of the military administration of the Kharkiv region, told Telegram.
Civilian industrial buildings, including at least three residential buildings and outbuildings, were also damaged in the rocket launcher, cannon artillery and mortar attacks on Kupyansk.
“Our defenders are holding their positions in the Kupyansk sector. The enemy has not made any progress,” said Syniehubov.