Russia Attacks Odesa During Visit by Czech President
On March 20, Russia launched a massive drone strike on the city of Odesa in Ukraine. This happened while Czech President Petr Pavel was visiting the city.
Pavel wrote on his social media account that he had arrived in Odesa, which has been resisting Russian aggression since the start of the war. During his meeting with Ukrainian officials, Russia launched three groups of Shahed-type drones at the city.
The attack caused injuries to three people and damaged civilian infrastructure, according to Oleh Kiper, the governor of Odesa Oblast.
Despite the attack, Pavel and the Ukrainian officials discussed important issues like maritime security, rebuilding Ukraine after the war, and community development. They also talked about the urgent need for de-mining efforts in Ukraine. The officials noted that Russia has fired over 450 missiles at Ukraine’s port infrastructure since summer 2023.
The Czech President was invited to attend a conference on rebuilding Ukraine in Rome this summer. This attack comes just two days after Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to stop striking Ukraine’s civilian and energy infrastructure for 30 days.