UNESCO World Heritage site destroyed: Russia apparently uses supersonic fighter-bombers in raids on Odessa

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Apparently, Russian forces are carrying out heavy attacks on the Ukrainian culture and port city of Odessa on Sunday night. The airstrikes are in retaliation for Ukraine’s attacks on Crimea.

Russian and Ukrainian online outlets are reporting violent explosions in Odessa – some in the center of the city of more than a million people, which is about 300 kilometers west of the Crimean peninsula and has so far been largely spared from war. According to military bloggers, the Russians deployed “at least four Tu-22M3 supersonic bombers”. Russian war blogger Vladimir Rogov reports this on his Telegram channel.

During the attacks, supersonic anti-ship Onyx missiles and the favorite weapon of war president Vladimir Putin (70) were fired: Kalibr cruise missiles. According to Rogov, the four-seat supersonic strategic bombers approached Odessa, after which the Kalibr and Onyx launches were recorded.

Destroyed UNESCO World Heritage Site

So far, Odessa has held its own as a busy summer vacation destination during the war. Now fear reigns in Ukraine’s historic cultural capital.

The Chinese consulate and the historic center of the coastal city were also damaged by Russian airstrikes the night before. The UN World Cultural Authority Unesco condemned the destruction of the world’s cultural heritage in the strongest possible terms.

Following attacks two weeks ago that destroyed historic cultural heritage in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, this is the second destruction of a UNESCO World Heritage site by Russian missiles. “UNESCO expresses its support to the people of Odessa,” the statement said, “and extends its sincere condolences to the families of the victims.” (kes)

Source: Blick