Denial follows justification
Russia confirms missile attack on Odessa
07/24/2022, 11:40 am
At first, Russia denies being responsible for the airstrike on the Ukrainian port city. Only a few hours later comes the turnaround. The Russian military claims to have destroyed a Ukrainian warship with precision missiles, a Moscow spokeswoman said.
Russia has admitted that it used rockets to attack the Ukrainian port city of Odessa. A day after the denial, Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, informed Telegram that an object of military infrastructure had been hit in the port. “High-precision” Kalibr cruise missiles were used. Ukraine’s key Black Sea port for grain shipments was shelled on Saturday, a day after Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement to resume grain shipments.
According to Turkey, Russia initially denied any involvement in the airstrike. “The Russians have told us that they have nothing to do with this attack and that they are investigating the matter very closely,” Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar said on Saturday. Zakharova’s confirmation is the first official Russian comment on the attack. According to your information, the Russian military wants to have hit a Ukrainian warship.
“Spit in the Face”
The attack on Saturday morning sparked international outrage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack destroyed any possibility of dialogue or understanding with Moscow. Government circles in Kyiv said that Russian President Vladimir Putin “spit in the face” of the United Nations with the attack. The UN and the Turkish government mediated the grain agreement, which is important for the global food supply.
Despite denials, the US government also blamed Russia for the attack. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Russia broke its commitments just a day after agreeing to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea. “This attack raises serious doubts about the credibility of Russia’s commitment to the agreement.” Blinken said the shelling was undermining the work of the United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine to get essential food products to world markets.
Apparently no injuries
According to Ukrainian data, the part of the port in Odessa where grain is loaded for export was hit. Two missiles were intercepted by the air defenses and two more hit the port, Ukrainian military spokesman Yuriy Ignat told the AFP news agency. According to the Reuters news agency, however, there was comparatively little property damage. Accordingly, a pumping station was hit. A small fire also damaged several buildings. The grain store was not hit. People were not harmed.
In the agreement, Russia pledged on Friday that it would allow export ships to use a sea corridor and not fire at them. The three ports involved in and around Odessa must also not be attacked. Among other things, it is about the export of millions of tons of grain.