A Russian missile attack on January 31 caused significant damage to historical buildings in Odesa’s UNESCO-listed Historic Center.
Odesa Mayor Hennadii Trukhanov reported this on Telegram, according to Ukrinform.
“The Bristol Hotel, one of the most striking architectural landmarks in central Odesa, sustained severe destruction, though the full extent is still being assessed,” Trukhanov stated.
The powerful blast wave also damaged nearby historic buildings, with about 15 cultural heritage sites affected. The primary destruction includes shattered windows and displaced wooden framework.
Among the most notable damaged landmarks are the Odesa Philharmonic (New Exchange Building), the Vuchini House, the Museum of Western and Eastern Art, and a branch of the Literary Museum.
The explosion also seriously impacted stained-glass windows and authentic wooden structures in the Union of Architects of Ukraine and the Porto-Franco Bank buildings.
“The Philharmonic (New Exchange Building) is the most valuable from both an architectural and social standpoint. The blast destroyed its main entrance woodwork, damaged stained-glass windows, and interior decor. Experts will assess the structural integrity after further inspections,” the Mayor explained.
He added that since 2023, the Philharmonic building has been under reinforced UNESCO protection according to the 1999 Second Protocol of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in Armed Conflict.
As reported by Ukrinform earlier, Russia targeted Odesa’s Historic Center with three ballistic missiles, directly hitting the Bristol Hotel.
Source: Missile strike on Odesa: around 15 cultural heritage sites damaged
