Shelling of Odesa city center: UN coordinator inspects destroyed cathedral

The UN Resident Coordinator Office in Ukraine Denise Brown arrived in Odesa to document the consequences of the attack on the historic city center.

That's according to the Odesa City Council on Telegram, Ukrinform reports.

"This is another clear violation of international humanitarian law, where civilians and civilian infrastructure, which is clearly destroyed, are not part of the war. And buildings like this cultural heritage site are key to Ukrainian identity and culture," the UN Resident Coordinator said according to the report published in Ukrainian.

She emphasized that the cathedral is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, so it is protected by the United Nations.

"It is important to document these attacks and the consequences of these attacks in order to bring the (perpetrators - ed.) to justice," the UN Resident Coordinator in Ukraine said according to the report published in Ukrainian.

As Ukrinform reported, a Russian missile attack on the night of July 23 destroyed a number of historical buildings in the center of Odesa. Among them is the Holy Transfiguration Cathedral. The Odesa Diocese of the UOC reported a direct hit to the central altar, which partially destroyed the cathedral building, the ceilings of the three lower floors, and significantly damaged the interior decoration and icons. The service rooms of the lower part of the cathedral were completely destroyed.

France and Italy declared their readiness to contribute to the restoration of the cathedral and the city.