Interview with Oleksandr Solomakha
Filmed and produced by Chris Sampson
On July 23, 2023, Russia attacked Odesa again as it sought to punish Ukraine through the destruction of the port city. Several locations were damaged but the one that made the widest news was the devastating impact on the Transfiguration Cathedral in the UNESCO World Heritage designated City Center.
The Cathedral had been destroyed before by explosives at the order of Russian tyrant Joseph Stalin. It was rebuilt after the independence of Ukraine and was a fixture in a beautiful area of the city.
The condemnation was swift and specific. From the church, the president of Ukraine and UNESCO, the aggression of Russian war was laid bare and met with bitter response.
We spoke with the head priest of the church and talked about its origins and the rebuild ahead
