Kyiv: In a dramatic turn of events, a Russian missile landed perilously close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s motorcade in Odesa on Wednesday.
The missile struck approximately 490 feet away from the motorcade, which was accompanied by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, as reported by Greek outlet Protothema.
Despite the close call, Greek and Ukrainian officials proceeded with their journey and convened for a meeting in the southern Ukrainian city situated on the Black Sea.
Following the attack, Zelensky took to X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, although he refrained from explicitly mentioning the Russian strike.
Zelensky revealed that he and Mitsotakis had convened at the site of a nine-story residential building that fell victim to a Russian strike on March 2, claiming the lives of 12 individuals.
Read More: Russia’s Oil and Gas Revenue Soars, Providing Fiscal Resilience Amid Sanctions
Addressing reporters at a joint press conference with Mitsotakis, Zelensky emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating, “The world witnessed the strike today,” alluding to the Russian missile that narrowly missed his motorcade.
“You can see the kind of adversary we are dealing with. They have no regard for where they strike,” Zelensky asserted, as quoted by Ukrainian media outlets. “While I’m aware of casualties today, I’m not yet privy to all the details, but I do know there are fatalities and injuries.”
The Russian bombardment of cities across Ukraine persists as part of a concerted effort to suppress the Ukrainian populace, with energy infrastructure frequently targeted.
This week, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two Russian commanders allegedly implicated in the bombing campaigns.
Zelensky, who has endured numerous assassination attempts since the conflict began in February 2022, remains resolute in his commitment to traverse Ukraine, including areas near the front lines.
Renowned for his steadfast resolve, Zelensky famously quipped shortly after Russia’s invasion, “I need ammunition, not a ride,” in response to a U.S. offer to evacuate him from Ukraine.
Nonetheless, the missile incident in Odesa serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing peril faced by Ukrainian officials like Zelensky, who persist in traveling across the war-torn nation. Tragically, last year, Ukraine’s interior minister perished in a helicopter crash in Kyiv.
