Russian missiles target Zelenskiy and Greek PM in Odesa

A deadly missile strike rocked the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, causing intense moments as President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were in the vicinity.

As The Guardian reports, the attack, which targeted port infrastructure, claimed five lives and left several others wounded, as confirmed by Ukraine's navy.

Mitsotakis described the harrowing experience of hearing sirens and explosions while in talks with Zelenskiy, emphasizing the intensity of the situation. Ukraine retaliated with attacks behind Russian lines, including the apparent killing of a Russian election official with a car bomb and a drone assault on a metal plant.

The strike in Odesa coincided with the Greek delegation's visit, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of Russian attacks, regardless of whether targets are military or civilian. While the White House noted the missile landed near the convoy, the Russian defense ministry claimed it targeted a hangar in a commercial port area where Ukrainian armed forces were allegedly preparing crewless cutters for combat use.

This attack follows a recent tragedy where a Russian drone struck a residential block in Odesa, resulting in the deaths of 12 people, including five children. The Biden administration stressed the urgent need for weapons in light of such relentless Russian aggression.

Meanwhile, in the Russian-occupied city of Berdiansk, a car bombing claimed the life of a local election official, with authorities blaming Kyiv for the incident. As tensions escalate ahead of Russia's presidential election, Ukraine is accused of attempting to intimidate residents in occupied territories.

The volatile situation underscores the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, with both sides engaging in aerial assaults as Moscow's troops advance and Kyiv faces critical shortages in manpower and weaponry.

[With information sourced from The Guardian]