"Russian Missile Attack Targets Odesa Cathedral, Putin's Counteroffensive Fails: Ukraine Updates"

Russia launched a missile attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa, targeting the Transfiguration Cathedral and causing casualties and damage to residential buildings. Ukraine's airforce destroyed nine of the missiles and President Zelenskyy vowed retaliation. UK intelligence reported that Russian forces were focusing on northeastern Ukraine, while US Secretary of State Blinken stated that Ukraine has regained about 50% of the territory seized by Russia. Russian President Putin claimed that Ukraine's counteroffensive has failed. Belarusian leader Lukashenko said his country is keeping Russian Wagner mercenaries under control. Poland opened a tank repair hub for damaged tanks from Ukraine, and NATO will convene a meeting to discuss the transport of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea.