Zelensky vows to 'retaliate' after overnight strikes on Odesa by Russia

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday (July 23) vowed "retaliation" against Russia after the historic port of Odesa was attacked by Moscow with missiles, killing two people and damaging an Orthodox cathedral.

"Missiles against peaceful cities, against residential buildings, a cathedral. There will definitely be a retaliation against Russian terrorists for Odesa. They will feel this retaliation,"Zelensky said.

Ukraine said that 19 missiles were launched by Russiaon Odesa overnight.

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At least two people lost theirlives and19others suffered injuries, which included four children as residential and religious infrastructure suffered damage in an attack, informed the governor of the region on Sunday (July 23).

"Odesa: another night attack of the monsters. Unfortunately, we have one civilian killed as a result of the nighttime terrorist attack by Russians on Odesa," said Oleg Kiper on Telegram. Earlier, he had said that there were "18 victims, including four children," in an attack launched by Russia at 3:00 am (0000 GMT).

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"Fourteen people were hospitalised in the city's hospitals, three of them were children," he stated. He added that the attack also led to "damage to civilian infrastructure, residential buildings and a religious institution".

Ukraine's repeated appeals for more defence systems

Head of Ukraine's presidential office Andriy Yermak repeated the call of Kyiv for more defence systems and missiles after the attack on Odesa.

"The enemy must be deprived of the ability to hit civilians and infrastructure. More missile defence systems, as well as ATACMS - this will help Ukraine," he stated on Telegram while speaking about the long-range tactical missiles which Kyiv has been appealing to Washington to supply.

Since the start of the invasion, Odesa has been bombed multiple times and the city's historic centre was designated as a World Heritage in Danger site by the United Nations Cultural Agency (UNESCO) in January.

Russia pounds Odesa

Odeas, along with other Ukrainian food export facilities, has been pounded by Russia almost daily for the past week after Moscow's withdrawal from the United Nations-brokered grain deal, which allowed for the Ukrainian grain's safe shipment.

On its Telegram messaging app, Ukraine's Air Force said that high-precision Onyx missiles along with sea-to-shore Kalibr cruise missiles havebeen launched by Russia on Odesa after midnight on Sunday.

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It was reported by the RBC-Ukraine news agency that the city's largest Orthodox church, which is the Spaso-Preobrazhenskyi Cathedralconsecrated in 1809, has suffered severe damages in the attacks.

In the social media videos, rubble can be seen inside a dark church-like structure which was put on fire and a distressed man can be seen walking and repeating, "The church is no longer."

Russia says attacks were 'planned, intended'

Moscow on Sunday said thatall the intended targets were hit inOdesa port, claiming those sites were being used forpreparing "terrorist acts" against Russia.

"At night the armed forces of the Russian Federation carried out a strike... on facilities where terrorist acts against the Russian Federation using unmanned boats were prepared. All planned targets in the strikes were destroyed,"said the Russian army.

(With inputs from agencies)

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