Borrell reacts to Russian missile strike on Odesa
High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell (photo: Getty Images)
European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the missile strike by Russians on Odesa during the visit of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the city, according to the diplomat's social media page X (former Twitter).
"The reckless air attack on Odesa when President Zelenskyy and PM Kyriakos were visiting, to pay tribute to the victims of the March 2 drone strike on a residential building, proves again Putin's disregard for any norms and his willingness to escalate," Borrell wrote.
The reckless air attack on Odesa when President @ZelenskyyUa and PM @kmitsotakis were visiting, to pay tribute to the victims of the March 2 drone strike on a residential building, proves again Putin's disregard for any norms and his willingness to escalate.
— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) March 6, 2024
Air attack on Odesa
On the morning of March 6, the Russians launched a missile at Odesa. Preliminarily, the strike was carried out with an Iskander-M ballistic missile. The Air Forces do not have air defense systems in the Odesa region capable of shooting down such targets.
At the time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were in the city. Greek media reported that the attack occurred 150 meters from the leaders' convoy.
Zelenskyy himself, commenting on the strike, stated that he saw and heard the Russian attack. Mitsotakis said that the Russians struck the city while he and Zelenskyy were at the seaport. He added that he heard powerful explosions nearby.
However, spokesperson for the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine Natalia Humeniuk noted that the strike was not related to the leaders' visit to Odesa.
