Russia knocks out Odesa runway, Zelenskiy says it will be rebuilt
(Reuters) -A Russian missile strike on Saturday knocked out the newly-constructed runway on the major airport within the Ukrainian metropolis of Odesa, a strategic Black Sea port, army and civilian officers mentioned.
“The Odesa airport runway was destroyed. We are going to, after all, rebuild it. However Odesa will always remember Russia’s behaviour in direction of it,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned in a late night time handle.
Odesa regional governor Maksym Marchenko mentioned Russia had used a Bastion missile, launched from Crimea.
“Thank God nobody was damage. Anti-sabotage measures are being carried out within the area,” he mentioned in a video posted on-line.
Odesa mayor Gennadiy Trukhanov mentioned it had taken 10 years to design and construct the brand new runway, which was formally opened final July.
“Because of the brand new runway we had been anticipating a colossal inflow of vacationers from all around the world. As a substitute, we bought a rocket strike,” he mentioned on Fb.
“However Odesa is just not a metropolis which surrenders to difficulties. We are going to completely restore the runway after our victory and much more vacationers will come to us.”
Russia’s army has not but confirmed the strike.
(Reporting by David Ljunggren; Modifying by Daniel Wallis and Chris Reese)
