Three Killed, Chinese Consulate Damaged As Russia Claims 'Retaliatory' Strike On Ukraine Port Cities

A Russian missile attack on Odesa damaged the building of the Chinese Consulate General in the city centre. China's Foreign Ministry said the shock wave of the explosion "knocked down parts of the walls and window panes of the consulate" and that Beijing "is paying close attention to the relevant developments." A security guard and a married couple were among three people killed as Russia struck Odesa and Mykolaiv for the third consecutive night in an assault on Ukraine's Black Sea ports and surrounding areas. Citing the "fate" of Russia's sunken Black Sea warship, Moskva, Ukraine said it will consider vessels bound for Russia or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory as military cargoes. Moscow announced a similar move shortly after exiting the UN-brokered grain deal on July 17. Meanwhile, Ukraine troops have already begun using U.S.-supplied cluster munitions against Russian forces. The weaponry has been deployed in Ukraine's southeast and is expected to be used against Russian positions near the occupied city of Bakhmut, as per The Washington Post.