A double Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian port of Odesa killed 14 and wounded a dozen others in the deadliest attack on the Black Sea port city since the start of the full scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia two years ago on 24th February, Ukrainian officials have reported.
Russia opened up missile fire with the morning strike, killing and wounding civilians who mounted to atleast 8 by the time the Ukrainian emergency service team personnel arrived at the scene.
The Ukrainian emergency personnel who had rushed to Odesa after the first missile strike were then caught up in the second strike in a attack known as the double tap used by Russia throughout the two years of its war in Ukraine.
Eight rescuers happened to lose their lives during the second missile strike and among the dead was Denys Kolesnikov,25, who worked at the Odesa fire station and was the first member of the crew to arrive after the first strike.
The attacks came as Russia started its polls that are defined by many as a foregone conclusion and are undoubtedly expected to deliver president Vladimir Putin a fifth term in power making him the longest reigning Russian ruler.
Russia is reported to have fired the first missile around 11a.m local time (5a.m) striking a civilian building and causing a fire outbreak.
Rescuers arrived to the scene to try and extinguish the fire as well as search for survivors before they were caught in a second missile strike shortly after.
Ukraine's Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin said atleast 73 people were injured including seven emergency service personnel as well as 20 people being killed.
ln his afternoon address, Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelensky described the double missile strikes an act of cowardice and that the search for survivors under the rubble is still ongoing.
This also came hand in hand with condemnation from the United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Ukraine Denise Brown.
Odesa, a crucial port for Ukraine's grain exports and a major base for its navy has sustained huge damage after months of Russian strikes.
Last week, a Russian missile exploded just a few hundred meters away from a convoy carrying Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who happens to be a leader of a NATO member state.
Both heads of state confessed were close enough to hear and see the strike.
Zelensky frequently makes high-risk trips to the front lines and has welcomed dozens of leaders to Ukraine ever since Russia launched its full scale invasion but the attack was one of the closest calls for the president.
After the strike, Zelensky made a renewed plea to his allies to provide more air defense systems.
While Kyiv may be protected by the U.S made patriot air defence system, not all Ukrainian cities enjoy the same level of shielding.
