Ballistic Missile Attack on Odesa Indicates Putin’s Escalation, Says EU’s Borrell

Russia launched a ballistic missile attack on Odesa during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.

The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, highlighted this act as evidence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin’s readiness to intensify the war efforts and his blatant disregard for international norms.

Through a statement on X on March 6, Borrell criticized Putin’s actions, labeling the attack as reckless especially considering the timing.

“The reckless air attack on Odesa when President Zelenskyy and PM Mitsotakis were visiting, to pay tribute to the victims of the March 2 drone strike on a residential building, proves again Putin’s disregard for any norms and his willingness to escalate,” Borrell expressed.

The missile strike, which occurred around 10:45 a.m. on March 6, tragically resulted in the deaths of five individuals. The timing of the attack coincided with Mitsotakis’s visit to the city for a meeting with Zelenskyy, ahead of a planned joint press briefing.

Responding to concerns, the Ukrainian military has stated that there is no evidence to suggest the Russian forces intended to target Zelenskyy’s motorcade during the strike. This incident underscores the ongoing tensions and the complexities of the situation in the region.