Russian troops on January 31 attacked the historical center of the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, damaging buildings on the UNESCO World Heritage list and injuring seven people, local officials said.
Regional Governor Oleh Kiper said three large explosions were heard in the early evening at intervals, which he described as a "well-established practice" by the Russian military of repeated attacks on the same target.
"However, in this case a missile capable of penetrating concrete was used," he said on national television while standing in a street near emergency crews engaged in a rescue operation.
"This means it was deliberately aimed at a civilian hotel to destroy the floors and structures inside, causing destruction and, of course killing civilians staying there at the time."
The Prosecutor-General's Office said Russian armed forces used ballistic missiles in the attack.
“In the central part of the city, a hotel building was destroyed, windows were broken, and facades in nearby buildings and premises were damaged," the Prosecutor-General’s Office said. Law enforcement officers have opened criminal proceedings, it added.
Kiper also posted photos on social media showing rescuers wheeling an injured woman on a gurney outside the Hotel Bristol, a luxury hotel built at the end of the 19th century, and debris on the street in front of the nearby opulent opera house built in the same era.
The photos also show damage to the building's ornate facade and interior, including a grand staircase.
SEE ALSO: Zelenskyy Presses Ukraine's Cause With Gathered World Leaders In PolandPresident Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the attack underscored the importance of improving Ukraine’s air defenses.
"Strikes directly on the city, on ordinary civilian buildings," Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address. "Again and again, air defense is the top priority. We are working with all our partners to provide more protection for our country."
Zelenskyy said a meeting of Ukraine's command had focused on improving weapons systems and speeding up deliveries.
"We need faster deliveries and greater numbers of systems and weapons which will enable us to save the lives of more of our soldiers, our people," he said.
"More orders for drones. More investments for the development of robotic systems. And more orders for basic weapons."
Zelenskyy called the attack "a completely deliberate strike by Russian terrorists" in a post on X. He added that among those caught in the epicenter of the attack were Norwegian diplomatic representatives.
Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said there was a lot of damage and destruction in the UNESCO-protected area, including a building that is under enhanced protection.
Odesa has been regularly targeted by strikes, including many on its port area.
The Russian leadership denies that the Russian army has launched targeted strikes on the civilian infrastructure in Ukrainian cities and villages. The Ukrainian authorities and international organizations have gathered evidence to the contrary.