Ukrainian journalists identify Russian officers involved in July strikes on Odesa.

Ukrainian journalists identified[1] Russian commanders allegedly involved in P-800 Onyx missile strikes on Odesa on July 19 and July 23, damaging the city's UNESCO heritage sites.   Russian Onyx, a supersonic cruise missile designed to destroy ships, was launched on Odesa from Bastion missile systems in occupied Crimea. Telebachennia Toronto, a YouTube media outlet, reported on Aug.

13 that Russia's 15th Coastal Defense Brigade is the only unit that operates the Bastion missile system, stationed in Russian-occupied Sevastopol in southwestern Crimea. Journalists identified Oleg Scherbak as Russia's 15th Coastal Defense Brigade commander and Alexander Myamlin, a Bastion unit commander, allegedly involved in the attacks. According to the report, Alexey Vavilov, a commander of the Bastion launcher, is also allegedly involved in the attacks.

In a series[2] of Russian attacks on Odesa following Moscow's unilateral withdrawal from the UN-brokered Grain deal on July 17, Russian forces targeted critical port and grain infrastructure[3]. They also damaged the historic center and a UNESCO-listed cathedral. A Russian missile attack on the night of July 23 killed one civilian and injured 21 others, including four children, Odesa Oblast Governor Oleh Kiper reported.

Reporter

Alexander Khrebet is a reporter with the Kyiv Independent.

He covers Ukraine's foreign policy, alleged abuse of power in the country's military leadership, and reports on the Russian-occupied territories.

Alexander is the European Press Prize 2023 winner, the #AllForJan Award 2023 winner and Ukraine's 2022 National Investigative Journalism Award finalist.

His was published in the Washington Times and Atlantic Council.

References

1. ^ identified (www.youtube.com)
2. ^ series (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ grain infrastructure (kyivindependent.com)