On Friday evening at around 20:00 (local time), in the port city of Odessa 2 Russian missiles hit the historic Hotel Bristol, which is the most prtestigious of the city, and for this reasons, frequented by diplomats and journalists. As a result of the air attack 7 people were injured and the building was severely damaged. In the neighbourhood many other buildings had their windows broken.
The members Italian Parliament, which sent two delegations to Odessa in July 2023 and October 2024, were particularly shocked.
“A new, shocking missile attack launched by the Russian Federation has devastated the historic centre of Odessa. Several people, including children, were injured in the attack. To the Mayor of the city, Gennadiy Trukhanov, and the Governor of the Odessa Region, Oleh Kieper, I have conveyed, through the Italian Ambassador to Ukraine, Carlo Formosa, the solidarity and heartfelt support of the Members of Parliament who are part of the Italy-Ukraine Bilateral Cooperation Group of the Chamber of Deputies.”
These were the words of Giorgio Mulè, Vice-President of the Chamber of Deputies, who chairs the Italy-Ukraine Bilateral Cooperation Group, speaking also on behalf of the group’s members: Giangiacomo Calovini, Ugo Cappellacci, Anastasio Carrà, Marco Pellegrini, and Lia Quartapelle Procopio.
“The historic centre of Odessa is a UNESCO World Heritage site, and Italy is committed to a programme aimed precisely at rebuilding what Russia continues to deliberately destroy, with no regard for the lives of Odessa’s citizens or for its history. It was just three months ago that the Bilateral Cooperation Group visited Odessa to assess the situation in the city and to plan new interventions. The historic Bristol Hotel, a late 19th-century masterpiece and one of the city’s landmark buildings, where the Chamber of Deputies delegation stayed, has been hit: some guests were injured, and it is almost completely destroyed. This is yet another affront to a city and a nation that has endured the barbarity of an attack for over three years—an attack that bears no connection to the principles of humanity or respect for international law.”
It is worth reminding that the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani signed with the Ukrainian Minister for Community, Territorial and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine Vasyl Shkurakov a memorandum of understanding for the reconstruction of the city and region of Odessa.
