On the evening of November 5, 2023, Russian armed forces launched a massive combined strike on Odesa. Missiles of various types and kamikaze drones Shahed terrorized the peaceful city for several hours.
The Ukrainian air defense system shot down most of the air targets, one also hit civilian infrastructure. At least five civilians were injured as a result and were hospitalized. According to the military administration, warehouses, equipment, and cars with grain were also damaged, windows were broken and a number of architectural monuments were damaged, water pipes were also damaged and some Odesa residents were left without water. Also, among the damaged buildings is the Odessa Art Museum. This building is the Potocki Palace, which was donated to the city on November 6, 1899 by the Greek mayor Grigory Marazli.
Note that the museum itself and the buildings that were damaged are protected by the UNESCO Convention.
“Odesa, a free city, a world city, a legendary port that has left its mark on cinema, literature, and the arts, is thus placed under the reinforced protection of the international community. While the war continues, this inscription embodies our collective determination to ensure that this city, which has always surmounted global upheavals, is preserved from further destruction,” — Audrey Azoulay, UNESCO Director-General.
Despite such statements, Russian military forces continue to strike the center of Odessa, regardless of casualties and destruction.
According to the UAF, on the morning of November 6, 2023, 15 enemy drones and 1 missile were destroyed.
Photo by Суспільне Одеса.
