Odessa: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warns Sunday that Russian forces are preparing to bombard Odessa, historic port city on the Black Sea Coast
“They are preparing to bomb Odessa. Odessa!” He stated, in the video address.
“Russia always comes to Odessa. They always feel warmth in Odessa. Only sincerity. And now what? Bomb against Odessa? Artillery against Odessa?” he asked.
“This will be a war crime. This will be a historical crime.”
Russian troops have made progress in South Ukraine since their 24 February invasion, ignores the city of Kherson and surrounded Mariupol’s port, but Odessa has so far been largely spared.
Nearly one million people live in Odessa, a cosmopolitan port on the south coast of Ukraine with Ukrainian and Russian speakers and a minority of Bulgaria and Jews.
On Sundays, there were several military checkpoints when they entered the city, but the streets themselves were calm and most empty.
Irina and Alexander Pivovartchik, the 50s couple returned home with their shopping, not moved: “We will survive! Tonight we will lock the door and we will have dinner as usual.”
Anastasia local students admitted that locals were used to air strike sirens and no longer jumped for protection, after one and a half week without attacks in the city since the war began.
Mykhailo Shmushkovich, city officials responsible for European solidarity, said more than 100,000 residents had escaped from Odessa but city defenders would fight.
“It can happen at any time. You can’t be ready for it,” he told the AFP news agency.
“Even before Zelensky told us that Russia would bomb Odessa, we were interested in fighting to the end. We are ready to fight,” he said.
The progress of Russia from a portion of Crimea has partially turned east to connect with a separatist who is supported by Russia and to seize the Azov Mariupol Sea port.
But another part of the power also headed west to Kherson, on the road to Odessa. The city is also close to the Moldovan border and the Transnistria area occupied by Russia.
During the first 11 days of conflict, Russian forces from Belarus had also advanced in the capital of Kyiv from the northwest and northeast, while other groups bombarded the North City of Kharkiv.
Some cities have been bombed and peeled and the United Nations estimates that more than 1.5 million civilians have been expelled from their homes by battle.