An explosion has ripped through a building housing a law office and a hostel in Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa, news reports said, in the latest of a series of blasts to rattle the city.
No injuries were reported in the explosion that occurred on one of the middle floors of a building on Koblevskaya Street late Tuesday night, Ukraine's Novoye Vremya reported.
Ukraine'sTSN reported that an apparent explosive device had been planted at the entrance to a hostel located on the third floor of the building and that the blast ripped a two-story-high hole through a stairwell and smashed windows.
The building also housed a law office, Novoye Vremya said.
Odessa, a? Black Sea port city with a? substantial Russian-speaking population, was the? site of? deadly clashes between pro-Moscow and? pro-European activists last May. More than 40 people were killed during the? violence, most of? whom were caught in? a building that was set on? fire
The city has been mostly peaceful since then, but has seen a series of explosions in recent months — a number of them apparently targeting pro-Kiev organizations in Odessa, according to media reports.?
A Message from The Moscow Times:
Dear readers,
We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia.
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help.
Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact.
By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us.
Remind me later.