The tourist city of Odessa was preparing yesterday to collapse under the bombardments of the Russian army, which seeks to control the most important economic port of the country.
President Volodymyr Zelensky warned on Sunday that this city, located near the Black Sea, could be the next target of Russian forces.
Last night, she still hadn’t been stormed. According to Agence France-Presse, many civilians made sure to set up roadblocks to curb Vladimir Putin’s soldiers.
Others take refuge in
remains like the Archangelo Mikhailovsky Monastery, which dates back to the early 18th century, according to AFP.
Tourism
It is this type of architecture that makes Odessa a popular region for travelers to Ukraine.
It is best known for the Potemkin Stairs, considered emblematic, and its National University Theater of Opera and Ballet.
Its annual number of tourists rose from 700,000 in 2014 to 3.3 million in 2019, according to specialist media Hospitality ON.
BEFORE
Photo: AFP
Glimpse of a new hotel in Odessa, 2015, near a crowded beach.
Photo Adobe Stock
Aerial view of Odessa, its port and its National University Theater of Opera and Ballet, illuminated by the sun, long before the war.
Photo Adobe Stock
The famous Potemkin Stairs are a popular tourist attraction in Odessa, like here in 2018.