A Russian missile exploded near Zelenskyy. Experts say the Ukrainian leader's still Putin's top target

The war in Ukraine brings daily dangers for all who live within its borders including its president.

A missile strike on Odesaon Wednesday put these dangers in full view of the visiting leader of Greece, as well as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy,when the missile reportedlyhitless than a kilometre from where they were meeting.

The Russian Defence Ministry said the Odesa strike was aimed at naval drones parked in ahangar. Ukrainian officials later said it appearedMoscow wastargeting port infrastructure and that the presence ofthe two leaders was coincidental. On Thursday, a senior ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin said Zelenskyy was not being targeted.

Yet the proximity of Zelenskyy and Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to the strikebrings renewed attention to what's at stake when missiles fall on Ukraineand what can happenin unexpected moments of wartime calamity.

"All Ukrainians are constantly at risk," said Marta Dyczok, a Ukraine expertat Western University, who sayspeople across the country aren't necessarily safe in any particular location after more than two years of wide-rangingattacks.

But Zelenskyyhas faced assassination threatsthroughout the war, and Dyczoksuspects the Ukrainian leader is Moscow's top target.

Amid this backdrop, sheand other analysts believeRussia would not hesitate to kill Zelenskyyshould the right opportunityarise.

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"No one should have any illusions about Russian aims here. If they think they have a good shot at [Zelenskyy], they'll take it," Stephen Sestanovich, who served as the U.S. ambassador-at-large to the former Soviet Union from 1997 to 2001, said via email.

"Barely two weeks after Alexei Navalny's death, Putin isn't going to worry that killing the president of Ukraine would be bad for his global reputation."

A changed reality

Zelenskyy was plunged into a wartime leadership role two winters ago when Russian forces rolled across Ukraine's borders.

The UN estimates that at least 10,000 Ukrainian civilians have been killed in the war. That toll that does not includethe tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers who have died defending their country.

Moscow has failed to topplethe government in Kyivdespite its massive investment of soldiers, weapons and other resources into the invasion effort.

Throughout it all, Zelenskyyhas been at the forefront of the battle tooust the invading forces.He's made a point of venturing into public spaces, as well as out onto the front lines.

"I think he's intentionally put himself in danger a number of times," said Dani Nedal, an assistant professor of political science at the University of Toronto.

To Nedal, it seems unlikely that the Odesa episode would change Zelenskyy's approach, given what he's been through already.

"I think on this point, he's very committed to this," Nedal said.

Western University's DyczoknotesZelenskyy addresseshis fellow Ukrainiansevery night via video, as part of his efforts to stay connected to the people living through war on a daily basis.

And his appearances outside Kyiv while carefully planned help drive home his connection to the fight.

"He is not hiding in a bunker," she said.

The University of Toronto'sNedal said even the plain, military-likeclothing that Zelenskyy wears is a way for him to convey that he's not simply "someone who wears a suit and sits in the capital" while a war is going on.

'Nothing can be ruled out'

If Russia were to somehowkill the Ukrainian leader, Dyczoksaid it would undoubtedlybe "a huge blow" to the country though it would not stop Kyiv's fight.

Oleg Ignatov, a senior Russia analyst for the International Crisis Group, a non-governmental organization, said it's only possible to speculate what Russia could rule in or out when it comes to targeting Zelenskyy.

Ignatovsaid Moscow does not necessarily have good intelligence about Zelenskyy'sdaily activities. That could make it hard to reach him unless Russia had an insider to work with.

"But this is a severe war, and nothing can be ruled out," he said via email.