The Russian military struck Odesa on Wednesday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyi and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis were en route to the important port in southern Ukraine, the Greek leader said, according to AFP. According to EFE, cited by Agerpres, several explosions occurred 150 meters from the official convoy of the two.
“At the end of the visit, we heard the sound of an air raid siren and explosions very close to us. We didn’t have time to take cover,” Mitsotakis said after the blasts, calling it an “amazing experience”.
According to private Greek television SKAI, the explosions occurred only about 150 meters from the convoy and were caused by a Russian drone attack, EFE reported, citing Agerpres.
Immediately after the explosions, the vehicles carrying the Greek delegation were diverted from the established route at the direction of the Ukrainian authorities, the same post reports.
The attacks followed a visit by the two leaders to a port important for Ukrainian grain exports across the Black Sea, where Zelenskyi explained efforts to “restore and strengthen Ukraine’s sea route,” according to Mitsotakis.
This route made it possible to export 28 million tons of grain since the conclusion of the trade agreement with Russia in July 2023.
In August 2023, Kyiv unilaterally announced the creation of a route to export its grain, despite Russian threats to take retaliatory measures against ships entering and leaving Ukrainian ports.
“We understand that this war affects everyone (…) It spares no one,” added Mitsotakis during a joint press conference with Volodymyr Zelenskyi.
For his part, the Ukrainian president, who travels frequently in the country despite threats of Russian strikes, condemned Russia’s attack on Wednesday.
“(The Russians) don’t care where they hit,” he told the media, adding that “they are dead and wounded.”
The Greek Prime Minister’s visit to this large city in southern Ukraine was not officially announced in advance, as were most visits by international leaders to Ukraine due to security concerns.
Later on Wednesday, Mitsotakis is expected in Bucharest, Romania, for a meeting of the European People’s Party (EPP).
Source: Hot News
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