Russian forces launched missiles in the center of Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odesa, a UNESCO World Heritage site, seriously damaging historic buildings and injuring seven people, local officials said.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack underscored again the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences.
Odesa regional governor Oleh Kiper said seven people were injured and emergency crews remained at the scene.
Online pictures posted by Kiper and by Odesa Mayor Hennady Trukhanov showed the lobby and other parts of the Hotel Bristol, a luxury landmark built at the end of the 19th century, reduced to rubble.
The Odesa Philharmonic concert hall, opposite the hotel, suffered damage with many of its windows smashed.
Online video showed fragments strewn on a street several hundred yards away near the opulent opera house from the same era. Museums in the district also suffered damage.
Kiper told national television that three explosions had resounded at intervals, which he described as a “well-established practice” by the Russian military of repeated attacks on the same target.
“However, in this case a missile capable of penetrating concrete was used,” he said while standing in a street near emergency crews.
“This means it was deliberately aimed at a civilian hotel to destroy the floors and structures inside, causing destruction and, of course killing civilians staying there at the time.”
Zelenskyy, speaking in his nightly video address, said the attack was staged “directly on the city, on ordinary civilian buildings.”
“Again and again, air defence is the top priority. We are working with all our partners to provide more protection for our country.”
Zelenskyy said a meeting of Ukraine’s command had focused on improving weapons systems and speeding up deliveries.
“We need faster deliveries and greater numbers of systems and weapons which will enable us to save the lives of more of our soldiers, our people,” he said.
“More orders for drones. More investments for the development of robotic systems. And more orders for basic weapons.”
