Russian forces launched missile strikes on Odesa’s historic center on the evening of Jan. 31, injuring at least two people, Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov said.
Three explosions were reported around 8 p.m. local time, shortly after Ukraine’s Air Force warned of missile launches from the Black Sea.
“The strikes are directly targeting the city, hitting ordinary civilian buildings. Again and again: Air defense systems are the first priority,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Videos and photos shared on social media show damage to the five-star Bristol Hotel. One of the injured is a hotel employee, according to Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper. Debris also fell near the Opera House, a well-known downtown landmark.
Trukhanov said the attack caused significant damage in Odesa’s UNESCO-protected historic district.
The Finnish government has approved its 27th military aid package for Ukraine worth 198 million euros ($206 million), the Finnish Defense Ministry said on Jan. 31.
This brings Finland’s total defense aid provided to Ukraine since the outbreak of Russia‘s full-scale invasion in 2022 to 2.5 billion euros ($2.6 billion). As with the previous Finnish aid packages, the content of the latest tranche is classified.
“Ukraine has received significant support from Finland,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a statement on Jan. 31. “We are grateful for the strong cooperation between our countries and look forward to continuing this partnership.”