Kyiv: Amidst the devastating Russian missile strikes, a renowned Orthodox cathedral in the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa has suffered irreparable damage, resulting in the loss of at least one life and injuring several others.
In the recent spate of attacks on Odesa, several other historically significant buildings have also been reduced to ruins.
The Transfiguration Cathedral, the grandest church structure in Odesa, traces its origins back to 1809 but met its demise during the Soviet era in 1936. However, following Ukraine's independence, the cathedral underwent meticulous reconstruction.
Heart-wrenching videos circulating on social media have unveiled the cathedral's interior, filled with debris and destruction. Fortunately, Ukrainian officials report that the patroness icon of the city has been rescued from the ruins.
Situated in Odesa's city center, this cathedral has been designated as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in response to the constant threat of invasion from Russia.
The Russian missiles have not spared mercy, inflicting damage on as many as twenty-five architectural monuments in Odesa, the Ukrainian port city, as confirmed by a local Ukrainian official.
Oleh Kiper, the head of the region's military administration, lamented that Russia deliberately aimed its missiles at the historic city center of Odesa, an area protected by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Kiper expressed his distress, stating, "Everything that was built with hard work by great architects is now being destroyed by cynical inhumans."
Odesa has long been a significant cultural hub with deep-rooted connections to Russia. Recently, Russia launched a barrage of drones and missiles overnight at the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, as reported by CNN. Russia cited Ukraine's attack on the Crimea bridge as a reason for this assault on Odesa.
In the face of such calamity, the world mourns the loss of historic treasures and prays for a swift end to the conflict that threatens the shared cultural heritage of humanity.
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