Russia has been mocked by Ukrainians after a £4million missile only succeeded in destroying a beach toilet. It has been reported that strikes on Odesa, a key strategic target, ended only in humiliation for president Vladimir Putin.
The Black Sea port is vital to the Ukrainian economy and is being blocked by the Russian Navy. It has been heavily bombarded by its forces.
But on this occasion it didn't go to plan, as a beach toilet block in the city was wiped out.
The destruction of the public bathroom was confirmed in a statement issued by Ukraine's southern operational command, reports the Daily Star.
They said: "Another missile strike with the use of aircraft was inflicted on the Odesa region. With air-based missiles, the enemy significantly 'damaged the air' in the southern Odesa region.
"The beach toilet was destroyed. Apart from the hopelessly lost conscience and reputation of the aggressor, there were no other losses."
Social media users were quick to mock the Russian army.
Mykola Vorobiov, a Ukrainian military journalist, tweeted: "Russian ballistic missile worth $5 million (£4m) just hit a public toilet on the beach in Odessa. Do you know any other better military investment?"
A second wrote: "This successful attack will surely break the backbone of the 35th Ukrainian Odessa Public Toilet Battalion, the lynchpin of the Ukrainian coastal defence."
A third said: "If rural Russia doesn’t have toilets, the Russian soldiers should be stealing toilets instead of washing machines. At least they’d have something to sit on."
Odesa is the largest and only deep-water port in Ukraine and plays a vital strategic role in the country's overall economy. Roughly 70% of Ukraine's total imports and exports are carried out by sea, with 65% being made through Odesa's port.
Odesa is also one of the most important departure points for Ukrainian cereals to international markets, which provides Ukraine with substantial revenues. In 2021, Ukraine was the fourth largest grain exporter in the world.
