| Part of theOdesa strikes (2022–present) andRussian invasion of Ukraine | |
| Date | 6 March 2024 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:40 (EET) |
| Location | Odesa, Ukraine |
| Perpetrator | Russia |
| Deaths | 5 |
| Non-fatal injuries | Unspecified amount |
On 6 March 2024, a Russian missile exploded inOdesa,Ukraine near a meeting betweenPresident of UkraineVolodymyr Zelenskyy andPrime Minister of GreeceKyriakos Mitsotakis, killing five people.
The attack occurred at around 10:40 local time (11:40 Moscow time)[1] during a visit by Greek Prime MinisterKyriakos Mitsotakis to Ukraine, during which he met with Ukrainian PresidentVolodymyr Zelenskyy in the city's port area and was to visit a building damaged in a previous attack on 2 March that killed twelve people, including five children,[2] and meet with members of theGreek community.[3] Ukrainian authorities issued an air-raid warning inOdesa Oblast at 10:40, which was followed by a powerful explosion. At 10:45, theUkrainian Air Force reported a threat of ballistic missile use in the area.[4]
Greek state ministerStavros Papastavrou said that the missile landed about 150 meters from where Mitsotakis and Zelenskyy were meeting.[5] Another source described the attack as the "closest call ever" on Zelenskyy's life.[6] Mitsotakis later said that it occurred as they were getting inside their cars,[1] adding that they "did not have time to get to a shelter."[2] However, the source and a spokesperson for theUkrainian Southern Defense Forces stated that they believed it was not intentionally targeting the two leaders, who were unharmed.[6]
The Ukrainian military said five people were killed in the attack and several others were injured.[7] TheRussian Defence Ministry claimed that it had successfully targeted a hangar in theport of Odesa storing Ukrainiannaval drones.[1] There were no casualties among Mitsotakis' delegation.[5]
In a joint press conference with Mitsotakis following the attack, Zelenskyy said that Russia did not "care where to hit" and that it had "either gone crazy or they don't control what their terrorist army is doing". Mitsotakis described the incident as "a very intense experience".[6][2]
A spokesperson for theUnited States National Security Council described the attack as "another reminder of how Russia is continuing to attack Ukraine recklessly every single day and of Ukraine's urgent needs, in particular, for air defense interceptors."[6]
President of the European CommissionUrsula von der Leyen condemned the attack, describing it as "vile" and a "new attempt at terror" by Russia.[2][8]
