The War in Ukraine Continues On: Following the announcement of a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to allow Ukrainian grain ships to leave the ports on the Black Sea, reports revealed how the Russian military launched a cruise missile strike on a Ukrainian military vessel in the port of Odesa.
Russia confirmed the strikes, insisting that they were launched against military infrastructure and not at areas in the Black Sea that the grain ships are expected to navigate through.
Initially, however, Moscow did not claim responsibility for the attack after it was condemned by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who said the strike was yet another example of “Russian barbarism.”
In a statement on social media, however, Russia’s foreign ministry spokeswoman walked back those initial denials and said that the strikes had destroyed a Ukrainian military “patrol boat.”
“Kalibr missiles destroyed military infrastructure in the port of Odessa, with a high-precision strike,” Maria Zakharova said.
The attack raised questions about the viability of the deal brokered by Turkey, in which Russia would allow the grain ships to leave the ports and navigate through an agreed safe route within the Black Sea. The deal would help prevent a famine across Africa, and also comes as Russia seeks to improve ties on the continent in response to the crippling economic sanctions introduced by the West. On Sunday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met Egyptian officials in Cairo to discuss new economic ties with Africa. He is also expected to make trips to Uganda, Ethiopia, and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Missile Strike in Odesa, Ukraine: Watch the Cell Phone Footage of the Strike
Various video clips shared online, recorded on cell phones, show the Russian cruise missile in the skies of Ukraine headed to its target in the Black Sea.
In a clip shared on a Ukrainian-language Telegram account, the rocket can be seen against the backdrop of a clear blue sky. It was accompanied by a caption describing it as one of the “strongest” attacks on Odessa throughout the entirety of the 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Video of a Russian cruise missile launched at Odesa this morning. https://t.co/ENiHYnzf1h pic.twitter.com/nsAjbm4Uqg
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) July 23, 2022
Another video clip also shared on Telegram and Twitter shows the same cruise missile from a different angle.
Another video of a Russian cruise missile launched at Odesa this morning. 2/https://t.co/GF6XkG0MPq pic.twitter.com/RdC8WwPeVr
— Rob Lee (@RALee85) July 23, 2022
Finally, an additional clip shows the Russian Kalibr cruise missile striking the port in Odesa. A large explosion can be seen in the water, and Russia’s claims of a “precision attack” appear to be validated in the sense that no surrounding infrastructure appears to be damaged.
The moment the Russian missile struck the port in Odesa today.
(Video was given to my @ABC colleague by an eyewitness) pic.twitter.com/DlD5nG8P2d— Patrick Reevell (@Reevellp) July 23, 2022
The move, however, continues to cast doubt on the viability of the recently brokered deal and the safety of grain ships that now intend to begin navigating out of the Ukrainian ports.
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society.
Note: This has been updated since publication.
