06 March 2024 , 15:15
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Russia has attempted to assassinate Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky with a missile strike on his motorcade, it has been reported.
Zelensky was visiting Odesa, in southern Ukraine, when the motorcade - which was 150 metres from that of Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis - was attacked by a Russian missile at 11.43am, according to local media. Greek State Minister Stavros Papastavrou said "there is no issue" with the security of the Greek PM, adding: "We are all fine."
It is understood the meeting between the Ukrainian and Greek officials took place as expected. A picture from the scene showed black clouds rising over the Black Sea port city.
Clouds of smoke could be seen rising over Odesa in southern Ukraine (NC)In remarks attributed to Mr Mitsotakis on Telegram, he said: "President Zelensky and his staff showed and explained to us the importance of the port and what is being done to restore and strengthen the Ukrainian sea route and what damage he experienced during the attacks.
"Already at the very end we heard the sound of sirens and explosions that were very close to us." According to Greek publication Protothema, the country's PM arrived in Ukraine early in the morning under conditions of "extreme secrecy" before heading to Bucharest in Romania for the EPP Summit.
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Mr Mitsotakis first visited a border station before meeting Zelensky in Odesa, where the sirens began to sound and Ukraine said Russia had launched a ballistic missile. According to local media, the strike was carried out by either an Iskander missile or an Onyx missile. There have been no announcements or statements from Ukrainian officials on the incident as of yet.
Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made a surprise visit to Ukraine (PA)According to reports, residents of Odesa were advised to go to shelters at 2pm. On Telegram, it has been claimed that five people were killed and "several" were injured in the attack. The Greek PM is being accompanied by minister of state Stavros Papastavrou, the head of his diplomatic office, Anna Maria Boura, and communications director Kyra Kapi.
In November, a key Putin security lieutenant issued a chilling warning to Zelensky saying he "is unlikely to have a chance of living to old age." The sickening threat from Russian ex-president Dmitry Medvedev followed Zelensky's revelation that he had already survived at least five Kremlin assassination attempts.
Mr Medvedev - now Putin's deputy on the Russian security council - said: "All this cheap bravado also evokes one very obvious thought. With such powerful ‘prophecies’, this fool is unlikely to have a chance of living to old age. Thoughts are sometimes material."