In Odesa, Ukraine, five people were injured and one of the city’s main art galleries was damaged in Russian strikes on Sunday, according to Ukrainian officials. Oleh Kiper, the governor of the Odesa region, expressed his disappointment on the eve of the Odesa National Art Museum’s 124th anniversary, stating that the Russians “congratulated” the architectural monument with a missile that hit nearby. As a result, the walls of the building were damaged, windows were shattered, and glass was broken.
Located in one of Odesa’s oldest palaces, the museum previously housed over 10,000 pieces of art, including works by renowned Russian and Ukrainian artists from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The Odesa city council released a video displaying blown-out windows and debris inside what was identified as the Odesa National Art Museum.
Odesa Mayor Henadii Trukhanov assured the public that the situation was under control but emphasized the need for a thorough examination to ensure that everything is fine. In addition to the museum, the attack caused a several-meter hole on the street near the museum, resulting in one person being injured, according to city authorities.
All five injured individuals, who were from various areas of the city, have been hospitalized. The incident highlights the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, with civilian infrastructure such as cultural landmarks being impacted.
Reporting from Odesa was conducted by Iryna Nazarchuk, with contributions from Oleskandr Kozhukhar in Kyiv. The writing of this article was done by Lidia Kelly in Melbourne, with editing by Gerry Doyle.
