"We heard and saw this attack today (in Odessa, ed.). You see who we are dealing with. They don't care where to strike. I know there were victims. I don't know the details, but I know there were deaths and wounded": Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this in the press conference with Greek Prime Minister Mitsotakis, as reported by Rbc Ukraine.
"At the end (of the visit), we heard the sound of air raid sirens and explosions very close to us. We didn't have time to go to the shelters," Mitsotakis said, speaking of "an impressive experience."
A strong explosion was reported today in Odessa, where according to unconfirmed media rumors, a meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis is planned: several Ukrainian Telegram channels report this.
Greek media reports that Mitsotakis arrived in Odessa today to meet Zelensky.
One of the videos published on social media shows a procession of several limousines and minibuses.
According to sources, the explosion occurred near the city's port and was preceded by an air raid alert.
Minister Stavros Papastavrou confirmed that "there are no injuries among the Greek delegation following the explosion, which occurred approximately 150 meters away" in Odessa.
He writes it on X the Kathimerini English edition account.
According to Kathimerini, the meeting between Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky took place as planned in Odessa, where an explosion occurred near the Ukrainian president's motorcade.
The Greek delegation was about 200 meters from the site of the explosion but all its members remained unharmed, Kathimerini reported.
The meeting with Zelensky had not been announced by the Greek government: Mitsotakis visited Odessa this morning before his trip to Romania, where he is expected for the two-day conference of the European People's Party (EPP) in Bucharest.
According to Ert news, the visit of the Greek prime minister was a decision of "high symbolic value" to reaffirm Athens' solidarity with Kiev, a few days before the two-year anniversary of the outbreak of the war.
Also today, the Greek Defense Minister, Nikos Dendias, announced on .
Reproduction reserved © Copyright ANSA