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AP/PA Images

Ukraine leader accuses Russia of 'terror' in missile strike that killed 21

Russia has also been accused of using phosphorus bombs.

LAST UPDATE | 2 Jul 2022

UKRAINIAN PRESIDENT VOLODYMYR Zelenskyy has accused Russia of engaging in state “terror” as he blamed Moscow for missile strikes on a southern resort town that left 21 dead and dozens wounded.

Missiles slammed into an apartment building and a recreation centre in the town of  about 80 kilometres (50 miles) south of the Black Sea port of Odessa, which has become a strategic flashpoint in the now more than four-month-old war.The attacks took place a day after Moscow abandoned positions on a strategic island in a major setback to the Kremlin’s invasion.The dead included a 12-year-old boy, Zelenskyy said in his daily address to the nation, adding that some 40 people have been injured and that the death toll could rise.

“I emphasise: this is an act of deliberate, purposeful Russian terror — and not some kind of mistake or an accidental missile strike,” Zelenskyy said.

“Three missiles hit a regular nine-storey apartment building, in which nobody was hiding any weapons, any military equipment,” he added. “Regular people, civilians, lived there.”

Sergiy Bratchuk, Odessa deputy chief of district, said on Ukrainian television the strikes were launched by aircraft that flew in from the Black Sea and fired “very heavy and very powerful” missiles.

 ’Inhuman’

Germany swiftly condemned the violence.

“The cruel manner in which the Russian aggressor takes the deaths of civilians in its stride and is again speaking of collateral damages is inhuman and cynical,” said German government spokesman Steffen Hebestreit.

The attacks follow global outrage earlier this week when a Russian strike destroyed a shopping centre in Kremenchuk, central Ukraine, killing at least 18 civilians.

President Vladimir Putin has denied his forces were responsible for that attack and Moscow made no immediate comment on the Odessa strikes.

Yesterday, Zelenskyy hailed a new chapter in its relationship with the European Union, after Brussels recently granted Ukraine candidate status in Kyiv’s push to join the 27-member bloc, even if membership is likely years away.

“Our journey to membership shouldn’t take decades. We should make it down this road quickly,” Zelenskyy told Ukraine’s parliament.

The president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, addressing Ukrainian lawmakers by video link, said membership was “within reach” but urged them to work on anti-corruption reforms.

Norway, which is not an EU member, announced $1 billion worth of aid for Kyiv including for reconstruction and weapons.

And the Pentagon said it was sending a new armament package worth $820 million, including two air defence systems and more ammunition for the Himars precision rocket launchers the United States began supplying last month.

‘Borshch war’

In a decision that immediately inflamed tensions further between Kyiv and Moscow, the UN’s cultural agency inscribed Ukraine’s tradition of cooking borshch soup on its list of endangered cultural heritage.

russia-ukraine-war Former Secretary General of NATO, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, right, looks at apartment buildings damaged by shelling, during his visit to Irpin, on the outskirts of Kyiv. Nariman El-Mofty Nariman El-Mofty

Ukraine considers the nourishing soup, usually made with beetroot, as a national dish although it is also widely consumed in Russia, other ex-Soviet countries and Poland.

UNESCO said the decision was approved after a fast-track process prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

We “will win both in the war of borshch and in this war,” said Ukraine’s Culture Minister Oleksandr Tkachenko on Telegram.

Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova quipped: “Hummus and pilaf are recognised as national dishes of several nations. Everything is subject to Ukrainisation.”

Phosphorus bombs

On Thursday, Russian troops abandoned their positions on Snake Island, which had become a symbol of Ukrainian resistance in the first days of the war, and sat aside shipping lanes near Odessa’s port.

The Russian defence ministry described the retreat as “a gesture of goodwill” meant to demonstrate that Moscow will not interfere with UN efforts to organise protected grain exports from Ukraine.

But yesterday evening, Kyiv accused Moscow of carrying out strikes using incendiary phosphorus munitions on the rocky outcrop, saying the Russians were unable to “respect even their own declarations”.

In peacetime, Ukraine is a major agricultural exporter, but Russia’s invasion has damaged farmland and seen Ukraine’s ports seized, razed or blockaded — sparking concerns about food shortages, particularly in poor countries.

Western powers have accused Putin of using the trapped harvest as a weapon to increase pressure on the international community, and Russia has been accused of stealing grain.

Ukraine yesterday asked Turkey to detain a Russian-flagged cargo ship that Kyiv alleged had set off from the Kremlin-occupied port of Berdyansk.

While heavy fighting continued in eastern Ukraine, officials said schools in the Ukrainian capital would re-open at the start of the school year on September 1 for the first in-person classes since lessons went online after the invasion began.

Olena Fidanyan, head of Kyiv’s education and science department, said territories adjacent to the schools will be checked for explosives and school bomb shelters will be restocked with essential supplies.

 © AFP 2022

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    Mute Atticus the Accuser
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    Apr 19th 2015, 3:59 PM

    Bit ridiculous it’s not a reflection on a person’s character what their ancestors did. I’m sure if you go back far enough in most people’s family tree, you’d get all kinds of “characters”.

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    Mute YFG Account
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:01 PM

    Sometimes as recently as the 70s

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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:20 PM

    There is a trend in America of calling for reparations from descendants of slave owners. Given his wealth he may be a target for claims, and given his political activism I can’t see how he could refuse without loosing face.

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    Mute J. Dunn
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:24 PM

    When someone tries to measure you against the actions of your long gone ancestors just tell them, ‘Well, if not for the murderers and rapists in your family tree you probably wouldn’t be here today.’.

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    Mute Jack Dunne
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:28 PM

    Weren’t all white people potential slave owners back then

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:31 PM

    What ever you do don’t mention black slave owners or the debt owed to the hundreds of thousands of white soilders who died to bring an end to slavery.

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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:33 PM

    Blacks owned slaves first .

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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:53 PM

    The Aran slave trade makes for some interesting reading. 10-18 million slaves taken, about 1 million of them from Europe. Male slaves were castrated, which is why there aren’t large groups of descendants of these slaves around the middle and near East.

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    Mute Jimmy Jim-Jim
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    Apr 19th 2015, 6:42 PM

    *Arab

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    Mute Agrippa
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    Apr 20th 2015, 12:03 AM

    Yeah didn’t they grab over 100 people from baltimore and enslave them in Algeria

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:08 PM

    When will these people ever learn that the more you try to hide this stuff the bigger it comes back to bite you in the ass.There is nothing to be ashamed about here. Ben Affleck didn’t own slaves.Its part of history and should be used to learn lessons from that god-awful period.

    I mean if he wants something to be ashamed of might I suggest Daredevil.

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    Mute Alan Ball
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:11 PM

    Sooo true!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:34 PM

    I’ll tell ya if he fecks up Batman I’ll be wanting words with him.

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    Mute David G
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:44 PM

    It’s called the Barbara Streisand effect

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    Mute John Ryan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:53 PM

    What ? Fecking up Batman ? ;-)

    Ill grab me jacket.

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    Mute Art Vandelay
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    Apr 19th 2015, 3:59 PM

    I’m sure in a few hundred years time his family will be hiding the fact that they ever knew or were related to an Affleck that was an “actor”..Gigli? Never heard of it…

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    Mute An Observer
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:31 PM

    ‘Batman v Superman’ is yet to be released…. Gigli might be a distant memory after that…

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    Mute Tap Solny
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:09 PM

    People should be held accountable for their actions today not for the deeds of their ancestors.

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    Mute YFG Account
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:12 PM

    Tap sometimes I think you’re the only person here who talks any sense.

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    Mute Joseph Siddall
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:29 PM

    Tap, does that apply to countries, also? If so, some commentators on Journal.ie should take note.

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    Mute James Lyons
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:06 PM

    “It’s history” is a forgiving phrase for a reason.

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    Apr 19th 2015, 3:58 PM

    I think it’s important that we never try to sweep history under the rug. Some actions are always wrong regardless of prevailing beliefs at the time or historical context. Those who murder or treat others poorly should always be held accountable as the criminals they are.

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    Mute Top Cat
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:05 PM

    It’s a delicious irony that uber leftwing commie like Afleck is descendant from slave owners.

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    Mute YFG Account
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:09 PM

    Top Cat I’d say you’re great craic at parties.

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:38 PM

    There’s got to be a limit to the number of times you can use the “I’d say you’re great at parties” line.

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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:47 PM

    Off topic but where did your username come from?

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    Mute David Jordan
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    Apr 19th 2015, 8:01 PM

    Don’t be coy YFG, we all know you’re talking about FG and AGS’s role in the planning, carrying out and cover up of the Dublin/Monaghan Bombings.

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    Mute Bill Rooney
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:42 PM

    Slavery was abolished in 1833 by an Act of Parliament – in Britain, of which we were part.

    Many weathy people in Ireland owned slaves – as part of their ‘balenced’ investment portfolio. Just like now, investments will include (say) – oil, property, gilts and drugs.

    Gladstone’s family (4 time English Prime Minister – with a major involvement in Irish affairs!) – had over 2,500 slaves, working on 9 plantations in the West Indies.

    In 1833, the Gladstones received £83 million (modern equivalent) in compensation. Staggeringly – getting paid for the ‘loss’ of slaves.

    The families of David Cameron (and his wife’s) had about 400 slaves on their books; they got £4 million in compensation.

    But so far, nobody has researched (as far as I know) the involvement of Irish investors. But – it is believed that many of our ancestors had a considerable slice of the pie, mainly in the Pale…..

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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    Apr 19th 2015, 4:32 PM

    Democrats are and were the real racists , poor old Ben ,his back will be raw with self flagellation .

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    Mute Brendan Julian
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    Apr 19th 2015, 8:18 PM

    Seems he only made things worse by trying to hide the fact. In your face Ben

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    Mute Amity Bodega
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    Apr 19th 2015, 9:47 PM

    His brother Casey Affleck was arrested for rape but that was covered up too. Also noticed there is very little about the actors on Wikipedia which is strange for such well known actors

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    Mute David G
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:53 AM

    There is a huge amount on Wikipedia about Ben but less about Casey so that comment is inaccurate.

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    Mute Bernard O'Brien
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    Apr 19th 2015, 10:05 PM

    A third of the people in Ireland are supposedly decended from Nial of the nine hostages which explains a lot !

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