I believed Russia would not destroy historic Odesa, because of the city's significance to the Russian empire. But I was wrong - now it seems they know they will never control it again, so they are happy to see it burn.
https://euromaidanpress.com/2023/07/23/russian-night-attack-kills-one-ruins-largest-orthodox-cathedral-in-odesa/

@anneapplebaum

"I believed Russia would not destroy historic Odesa, because of the city's significance to the Russian empire."

Note that it is Putin and his accomplices who are in charge there.

They are more concerned about holding on to their power than about any legacy of the Russian empire.

And at this point they consider #Ukraine military advance a larger threat to this, than the opinion of Russian people about these actions.