City that defends its freedom: the head of the European Council visited Odesa

President of the European Council Charles Michel arrived to Odesa to support the southern Ukrainian city under the blows of Russian troops on Europe Day.

The European politician announced a visit to Odesa, timed to coincide with Europe Day.

The head of the European Council toured Odesa and held a series of meetings with Mayor Henadiy Trukhanov, head of the Odesa military administration Maksym Marchenko and Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal.

He explained his choice of the city with the opportunity to “feel the European spirit“, relying on the words of the Russian poet Alexander Pushkin.

I came to celebrate Europe Day in Odesa, the city where Pushkin said that “you can feel Europe”. And where today the Ukrainian people shield their monuments from bullets and rockets and their freedom from Russian aggression. You are not alone. The EU stands with you, – Michel’s post says.

I came to celebrate #EuropeDay in #Odesa, the city where Pushkin said that “you can feel Europe.”

And where today the Ukrainian people shield their monuments from bullets and rockets and their freedom from Russian aggression.

You are not alone.
The EU stands with you. pic.twitter.com/kneuEOvepb

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) May 9, 2022

In the European Union and a number of countries, Europe Day is celebrated on May 9. In Ukraine, this holiday from 2003 is celebrated on the third Saturday of May.

On April 12, 2022, the World Congress of Ukrainian Youth Organizations and the Spanish NGO Institute on May 9 turned to the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky with an offer to postpone the celebration of Europe Day in Ukraine to May 9.

On May 9, the Russian military launched a missile attack on the Odesa region. The Russians fired four Onyx missiles from the Bastion complex. The strike was made from the territory of the occupied Crimea.