On the morning of Could 9, as a part of the Moscow Victory Day festivities, Vladimir Putin positioned flowers on the monument to World Struggle II "hero metropolis" Odessa. Later that evening, a Russian assault that included the usage of hypersonic "Kinzhal" air-to-surface missiles struck civilian targets within the Ukrainian port metropolis of Odesa. At the very least one particular person was killed within the assault.

The strike coincided with the go to of European Council president Charles Michel to the Ukrainian port metropolis. In response to Ukrainian presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych, a complete of seven rockets had been fired within the assault, which utilized each the Soviet-era X-22 and the trendy Kinzhal varieties.

Odesa Rocket Attack 9-May-22
A fraction of a missile is seen in entrance of the procuring and leisure heart within the Ukrainian Black Sea metropolis of Odessa on Could 10, 2022, destroyed after Russian missiles strike late on Could 9, 2022. Picture by OLEKSANDR GIMANOV/AFP by way of Getty Photos

Russian forces had beforehand used Kinzhal missiles to hit an underground storage facility within the western area of Ivano-Frankivsk and as a part of a strike on a gasoline storage facility within the south close to Mykolaiv. It was not instantly clear why the superior Russian weapon was deployed in Sunday evening's assault on targets that included a shopping center and a resort.

"Putin couldn't seize Odesa, and so he has began to destroy its infrastructure," Ukrainian Rada Deputy and Odesa native Oleksiy Honcharnko advised Newsweek.

"Native residents are amazed on the cynicism," Honcharenko added. "Yesterday, with one hand, Putin positioned flowers on the pedestal of the hero metropolis Odessa, and with the opposite hand he thrust the dagger into the again of Odesa."

The Russian spelling for the port metropolis is Odessa, whereas the Ukrainian spelling is Odesa.

On Could 10, Kyiv-based journalist Nataliya Gumenyuk tweeted footage of the Russian strike's aftermath.

The Russian phrase "kinzhal," for which the hypersonic missile is known as, means "dagger."

"These strikes didn't obtain any navy purpose," Honcharenko added. "Possibly it would scare off a number of the residents who had been planning to return to their houses, however strategically talking, it modifications nothing."

Reasonably than scaring the native inhabitants, the Russian strikes appear to be alienating it.

"If earlier than the battle Odesa was round 40% pro-Russian, now it is 90% pro-Ukrainian," Sergey Steblina, an area designer, advised Newsweek. "I am not going anyplace, and the general public I do know who evacuated in March are nonetheless planning to return again."

Throughout his morning briefing on Could 10, Russian Ministry of Protection official spokesman Igor Konashenkov didn't make be aware of the strike, saying solely that "Russian air defenses in a single day destroyed three Ukrainian unmanned aerial assault autos," together with one "close to town of Odessa."