This was the second attack on the vast Transfiguration Cathedral, in the heart of Odesa's Unescolisted centre: in the 1930s, it was torn down during Joseph Stalin's atheism drive, then early yesterday the rebuilt version was hit during a Russian airstrike on the city. A missile blew a large hole in the roof, collapsed the altar and left several walls charred by fire.
It was one of several strikes on the southern port city yesterday. Schools and residential buildings also suffered damage. One person died and 14 were taken to hospital, the regional governor said.
Russia has hit Odesa relentlessly since Moscow pulled out of a deal last week allowing Ukrainian grain exports from the city's Black Sea ports. It has also threatened to treat commercial ships trying to dock in Odesa as military targets to ensure no grain can leave.
"Russia's current strategy is to destroy Odesa. They would never really attack foreign-flagged ships coming to Odesa, so they are attacking Odesa to make it clear that it's too dangerous here," said Oleksiy Honcharenko, an MP from the city. He said Ukraine urgently needed more air defence systems.
Even by the standards of Russia's war strategy, a strike on a historic cathedral, "consecrated by the patriarch of the Russian Orthodox church, no less", was shocking.
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