ODIHR condemns Russian strike targeting Odesa cathedral

The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) condemned Russia's shelling of the Transfiguration Cathedral in Odesa and called for an end to attacks on religious and civilian objects.

This was reported by ODIHR via Twitter, Ukrinform saw.

"The shelling of Odesa’s Transfiguration Orthodox Cathedral and the killing of innocent civilians in Ukraine is unacceptable. Acts of hostility targeting religious sites and civilian objects are a grave violation of international humanitarian law and must stop immediately," the statement reads.

Meanwhile, neither OSCE Secretary General Helga Shmid nor the current North Macedonian chairmanship of the OSCE, as of 20:00 (Kyiv time) on Sunday, made official statements regarding Russia's barbaric shelling of Odesa – another gross violation by Russia of international law and its obligations as an OSCE participating state.

Ukrinform inquired from the North Macedonian Presidency and the office of the OSCE Secretary General to comment on the Russian strike on Odesa’s peaceful neighborhoods.

As Ukrinform reported earlier, overnight Sunday, July 23, Russian troops launched a massive missile attack on Odesa. The invaders fired 19 missiles of various types.

The strike hit Odesa’s historic center, included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. As a result of the attack, 25 architectural monuments were damaged, including the famous Transfiguration Cathedral.

As a result of the strike, one person died and 22 people were injured, including four children.