The British Ambassador, Neil Holland has said that attacks on Odesa’s cathedral in Ukraine which offered a place to worship, pray, and come together, Russia has attacked heart of a civilian community, described as an act of cultural and religious vandalism.
Published by the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office on Tuesday, the Ambassador stated that the attack is in violation of the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict.
According to him, “At last week’s Permanent Council, I spoke of the depressing predictability of attacks on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure almost the moment Russia had withdrawn from the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI).
“Since then, the Russian Federation has added an appalling list of civilian, cultural and religious sites to the list targeted by days of sustained missile attacks in Odesa”, the UK ambassador said.
He pointed out that Russia’s attacks on Odesa are part of its systematic efforts to deliberately prevent Ukrainian grain exports and threaten the world’s food supply. “The people of Odesa are killed, wounded, and traumatised by Russian aggression.
“Grain and shipping facilities are destroyed. Exports cannot leave port. The world’s most vulnerable are directly harmed by Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
“By unilaterally forcing the collapse of the BSGI and then attacking grain infrastructure, Russia has used food as a weapon. It is knowingly preventing grain reaching those in Africa and Asia who need it most”, Holland added.
The Ambassador said there are reports that Russia is now offering to supply grain to vulnerable countries in Africa. “We should be under no illusion that this is somehow a generous or humanitarian gesture by Russia.
“If that were the case, Russia would not be ruining Ukraine’s ability to export grain. Grain which accounts for much of the World Food Programme’s global wheat supply, and which is sent to countries around the world who are in great need of it, particularly in Africa.
“By withdrawing from the BSGI, up to 24 million tonnes of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukraine’s upcoming harvest may now not reach global markets. If Russia was truly serious about global food security, it would withdraw its forces from Ukraine and end its illegal war”.
He referred to the history which teaches that these inhumane attacks on Odesa won’t succeed in breaking the spirit of the Ukrainian people. “In 1936, the Transfiguration Cathedral was destroyed on Stalin’s orders. But it was rebuilt by Ukraine and stood again.
“Despite the damage and terror caused by Russia’s latest missile strikes, the people of Odesa are already uniting in the recovery effort. A neighbouring congregation has helped to clear the wreckage inside the cathedral.
“Others cleared the shattered glass from the grass and flowers around the cathedral. This selfless bravery and unity have characterised how the Ukrainian people have stood firm in face of Russia’s destruction. Ukraine will win this war, and we will stand by it for as long as it takes”, he said.
It was reported that Russian missiles struck Odesa, Ukraine on Sunday, causing destruction and casualties, including damage to the historic Transfiguration Cathedral.
The cathedral, with cultural links to both Europe and Russia, had a turbulent history, being destroyed during the Soviet era and later rebuilt with global support.
Ukraine’s President, Volomymir Zelenskyy vowed retaliation, and the world, including Pope Francis and UNESCO, condemned Putin’s actions, while the strikes also damaged 29 other cultural monuments.