MOTORCADE BLAST
Zelensky survives ASSASSINATION attempt after deadly Russian airstrike while touring Odessa with Greek PM
Zelensky said there were people 'dead and wounded'
UKRAINE’S President Volodymyr Zelensky has survived an alleged attempt on his life while touring the Black Sea port of Odessa.
He claimed other people died and were injured when a Russian missile struck near his motorcade.
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The attack was launched at his line of cars while he was with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis.
Both delegates were a mere 500 to 800 metres from the strike which killed five people, according to a Ukrainian navy spokesperson.
Zelensky told reporters soon afterwards: "Do you see who we are dealing with? It doesn't matter where you hit.
"I know that there were victims today. I don't know what other details, but I know there were victims.
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"I know there are dead and wounded. This is a blow. My condolences."
The delegation heard sirens and a big explosion as they headed towards their cars, Mitsotakis said.
Zelensky continued: "It doesn't matter whether they are military or civilians.
"Whoever they are, there are international guests [the Greek premier]. These people [the Russians] don't care.
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"They're either crazy or they're completely out of control [the way] their terrorist armies are acting, that's what we see.
"This shows that we need to defend ourselves first and foremost.
"The best way to do that is with an air defence system.”
Zelensky pleaded for more firepower amid a slowdown of Western aid, particularly from the US, and said Ukraine was strengthening "a little slower than we'd like".
The Ukrainian president earlier accused Vladimir Putin of making Ukrainian children "military targets" in an horrific attack by an Iranian-made Shahed drone on a nine-storey apartment block.
The Greek premier said: "President Zelensky and his staff showed us and explained to us the importance of the port.
"And what was being done to restore and strengthen the Ukrainian sea route, which had been damaged during the attacks.
"We heard the sound of sirens and gunshots that were very close to us. We didn't have time to go to some protective place, and so it was a very striking experience.
"We realise that this war affects everybody."
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