SW News: The historic Transfiguration Cathedral in Ukraine has been damaged in a Russian missile attack in the port city of Odesa. Reuters reported, quoting the words of Odesa region governor Oleh Kiper, that one person was killed and 19 others were injured in the missile attack that took place on Sunday.

Meanwhile, the head of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, Major Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk lamented the missile attack on the cathedral. In a statement issued on Sunday, July 23, he said, "I think the people who used to attend that cathedral to pray are crying today. And we need to commiserate with them because today a Russian missile hit not just the sanctuary of their church but also struck them in the very heart."


UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay also issued a statement condemning the Russian attacks in Odesa, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. She urged the Russian Federation to "take meaningful action to comply with its obligations under international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and the 1972 World Heritage Convention."


Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022, many historic religious sites in Ukraine have been destroyed, and many others have suffered serious damage.