A Russian missile exploded just 500 meters from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek PM Kyriakos Mitsotakis during the attack on Odesa on Wednesday, March 6.
Russian attack on Odesa during Zelenskyy's visit
CNN cited a source familiar with the situation, who said the impact hit the convoy carrying the leaders, and the group saw a "mushroom cloud" of smoke.
Zelenskyy said he was close enough to see and hear the blow the day before.
We saw this strike today. You see who we are dealing with; they don't care where they hit. I know there were casualties today. I don't know all the details yet, but I know there are dead and wounded. We must protect ourselves first. The best way to do this is with an air defence system.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy
President of Ukraine
Mitsotakis said Zelenskyy gave him a tour of the southern city, which suffered massive damage from months of Russian strikes before they heard air raid sirens.
Shortly after we got into our cars, we heard a loud explosion. I think that for us this is the best, the brightest reminder that there is a real war going on here. Every day there is a war that affects not only the front, the soldiers, it affects our innocent fellow citizens, Mitsotakis told reporters later on Wednesday.
Russian missile attack on Odesa on Mar. 6
On the afternoon of Mar. 6, Russia launched a missile attack on the port infrastructure of Odesa.
Ukraine's Navy spokesman Captain 3rd Rank Dmytro Pletenchuk told the media that 5 people had died.
European Council President Charles Michel condemned the strike as "another sign of Russia's cowardly tactics", which he said were "below even the Kremlin".
The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, called the attack reckless.
The reckless air attack on Odesa, when President Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Mitsotakis 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.
