Russian missile hits close to Zelenskyy, Greek prime minister

A deadly Russian missile strike hit Odesa close to the location that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were visiting in the southern Ukrainian port city on Wednesday.

“These people don’t care, they have either gone insane or they don’t control what their terroristic army is doing,” Zelenskyy said about the Russian military during a joint news conference with Mitsotakis in Odesa.

The single-missile strike, which occurred in the morning, killed five people, Ukrainska Pravda reported, citing military spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk.

The attack happened as the two leaders were touring the port of Odesa and surveying the damage to its infrastructure, Mitsotakis said, speaking alongside the Ukrainian president. “And shortly after, as we were getting into our cars, we heard a big explosion,” Mitsotakis said.

The missile landed near Zelenskyy’s motorcade, which was some 150 meters away from the Greek delegation, without harming officials, Greek website Protothema reported earlier on Wednesday, citing its correspondent, who was present at the site.

The Russian strike drew condemnation from European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

The Russian Defense Ministry said a hangar was hit in Odesa’s port, where military naval drones were allegedly stationed for combat deployments.

The port city on the Black Sea is regularly targeted by Russian missiles and drones.

Zelenskyy and Mitsotakis visited the site of the last aerial attack against Odesa which happened on Saturday, when explosive-laden drones destroyed an apartment building in the city, killing 12 people including five children.

Mitsotakis and Zelenskyy discussed the operation of the grain export corridor, energy and reconstruction of the country, according to a statement from the Greek premier’s office.

Mitsotakis reiterated Greece’s continued backing for Ukraine and firm support for the country’s European and Euro-Atlantic prospects.

Zelenskyy seized on the attack on Odesa to reiterate his call to allies for more air defense and long-range weapons. Ukraine is increasing its own production of combat drones to offset the deficit of artillery shells, he said.

Greece has supported Ukraine since the beginning of Russia’s invasion in 2022, providing military and humanitarian aid, as well as training for the country’s pilots to operate F-16 fighter jets.