During the night of 23 July, Russia launched five types of missiles at the south-Ukrainian port city of Odesa, destroying port infrastructure, residential buildings, and the largest Orthodox Church in the city, Operative Command South said.

It added that Ukrainian air defense destroyed a large part of the missiles, but the rest hit the

port facilities, at least six residential buildings, including apartment buildings, damaged dozens of cars were damaged, as well as the facades and roofs of many buildings in the city, including two monuments of architecture.

The attack, which involved Kalibr, Onyks, Kh-22, and Iskander-K missiles, as well as the ballistic Iskander-M, killed one person and injured 19, Odesa authorities said. 

Photos: Operative Command South, Odesa Oblast Military Administration

The attack demolished the city’s largest Orthodox Church, the Transfiguration Cathedral, which belongs to the Russia-backed Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate.

During tonight’s missile attack, Russia hit and partially destroyed the Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral in Odesa

One of the most beautiful churches in the city, it was built in 1794, then blown up by Stalin in 1936, and rebuilt during Independent Ukraine.
Residential houses… pic.twitter.com/49nCznXy2Q

— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) July 23, 2023

The Transfiguration Cathedral is located in the heart of Odesa on Ploshcha Soborna.

The church first appeared on this site in 1808. However, in 1936 it was destroyed by the Soviet authorities. Before the destruction, the cathedral was looted.

The church was restored after Ukraine gained its independence. The building was put into operation in 2005.

• On 17 July 2023, the Russian Federation withdrew from the Black Sea grain initiative and stated that it would not give guarantees it will not attack civilian vessels after that date. The Ukrainian defense ministry mirrored Russia’s threats to ships at sea.
• After that, Russia launched a massive attack on the city of Odesa and the region with missiles and drones for five nights in a row, destroying ports, granaries, residential buildings, and other facilities. The attacks in the city and region also resulted in civilian casualties.
  
  

Related: 

• Russian missiles destroyed 60,000 tons of food that waited for shipping to China from Odesa
• Russia launches largest-yet attack on Odesa; port, grain instrastructure hit
• Russia attacked Odesa’s agricultural infrastructure twice in last 24 hours
• Port, industrial facilities hit in Russian night missile and drone attack on southern Ukraine