Russia's Silence at UN Meeting on Odesa Attacks Raises Concerns

Russia refused to speak at a UN Security Council meeting discussing its recent attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, following a dispute over the number of briefers allowed. The confrontation began when Russia accused the UK of bias and censorship for limiting the number of briefers. Russia's proposal to have the Archbishop of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church speak was rejected, leading Russia to boycott the meeting. The meeting proceeded without Russia's participation, addressing the division within Ukraine's Orthodox Church. The director of the U.N. Alliance of Civilizations condemned the damage caused by a Russian missile strike on Odesa's Transfiguration Cathedral, which is one of 116 religious sites damaged since the invasion. The subsequent meeting on the Odesa attacks heard condemnation from most council members, with the U.S. accusing Russia of preventing Ukrainian grain exports and using grain as leverage.