Kyiv: 'Russia strikes Orthodox cathedral in Odessa'

By Stefan J. Bos

After apparent Russian missile strikes, a fire raged through the Transfiguration Cathedral of the Moscow-linked Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC), and later emergency workers tried to save religious icons rescued from inside.

Also known as the Spaso-Preobrazhenskiy Cathedral, Odessa's largest Orthodox church was consecrated in 1809. It was destroyed by the Soviet authorities in 1939 but rebuilt in 2003.

Questions remain as to why Russia would strike a Moscow-linked church. Nearby, a residential building was damaged during Sunday's Russian missile strikes.

Residents in Odessa are now mourning the death of a person, while concerns remain about more than 20 people, including children, who were injured by authorities in the attacks.

Ukraine's Southern Operational Command said Odessa was targeted with at least five types of missiles over the weekend, including high-precision Onyx missiles, sea-to-shore Kalibr cruise missiles, and Iskander ballistic missiles.

Several times bombed

Odessa has been bombed several times since the start of the invasion. In January, the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO designated the historic center of Odessa as a World Heritage in Danger site.

Moscow has denied targeting civilian sites despite growing evidence to the contrary.

Soon after the latest Odessa attack, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zekensky warned there would be a retaliation to what he called Russian terrorists for Odessa.

Hours later, Russia accuses Ukraine of being behind a drone attack that damaged at least two buildings in the capital Moscow early on Monday morning. 

Russian media reported that one drone fell close to the defense ministry. The Russian defense ministry said two drones were intercepted, "suppressed, and crashed," adding that there were no casualties.

Kyiv has not yet commented, but Ukraine rarely claims responsibility for attacks inside Russia. Ukraine has come under Western pressure not to use weapons delivered by the NATO military alliance for attacks inside Russia amid concerns the war could escalate into an even broader international conflict.

Since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, hundreds of thousands of people have been killed or injured, and millions have been displaced.