Topline
At least 18 people were killed on Friday after a barrage of Russian missiles struck a residential building in the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, just days after another similar attack on a crowded mall in central Ukraine claimed at least 19 civilian lives and drew strong global condemnation.
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, first responders work a damaged … [+]
Key Facts
The death toll includes two children, while at least 30 people were injured, deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office Kyrylo Tymoshenko said in a Telegram post.
Tymoshenko said three Russian missiles struck a nine-story building and a recreational center early on Friday, destroying its outer wall and some of its floors.
Rescue operations at the building are still ongoing.
The attack on Odesa comes just a day after Ukrainian officials said they had regained control of nearby Snake Island, which Russia claimed it gave up as a “goodwill gesture.”
Russia’s exit from Snake Island was expected to lower the threat to the vital port city of Odesa which is located just 80 miles away.
Crucial Quote
“Terror is a common tactic of Russia. First, they cover their criminal actions with an ‘act of goodwill,’ and then launch rocket attacks on our peaceful cities,” Tymoshenko said in his Telegram post echoing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier condemnation of Russian attacks on civilian sites as acts of terrorism.
Key Background
On Thursday, the Ukrainian Navy said it had retaken Snake Island. The small Black Sea outpost has attained near-mythical status in Ukraine after troops stationed on the island at the start of the invasion refused to surrender to the Russian Navy with a defiant radio message of “Russian warships, go f*** yourself.” Russia acknowledged its exit from Snake Island but presented it as an act of goodwill to enable the export of Ukrainian grains. Friday’s missile strike comes as Russia has once again ramped up attacks on Ukrainian cities as it pushes to take control of the entire Donbas region in the country’s east. One of the most devastating attacks took place earlier this week as Russian missiles struck a crowded shopping mall in the city of Kremenchuk, resulting in at least 19 confirmed deaths. Zelensky labeled the strike as “one of the most defiant terrorist attacks in European history,” and even appealed to the United States to label Russia as a state sponsor of terrorism. The strike on the mall drew strong international condemnation with the G-7 group of nations calling it “abominable” and adding that Putin should face justice for committing war crimes.
Further Reading
At least 18 dead in Russian missile attack on Odesa (Associated Press)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/siladityaray/2022/07/01/at-least-18-people-dead-after-russian-missiles-strike-residential-building-in-odesa/