Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia is trying to cut off the Odesa region and other cities from the rest of the country by targeting port and transport infrastructure. According to him, the attacks are aimed not only at the economy but also at people, reducing Ukraine’s ability to export through maritime corridors.
“They are striking port infrastructure because they are hitting both people and the economy, reducing our export capabilities via the sea corridor. We are restoring, we can, and we are acting as quickly as possible — this is very important for us,” Zelenskyy emphasized during a briefing with journalists.
The president also noted that during his talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, he discussed Ukraine’s critical need for modern air defense systems, including NASAMS missiles, and received assurances of support. He thanked European partners for assisting through the PURL program, which allows Ukraine to procure the necessary air defense systems.
Russia’s Goal and Strategy
According to international experts and the Polish Gazeta Wyborcza, Russia cannot capture Odesa by storm, so it is focusing on massive strikes against energy, port, and logistical infrastructure. The goal is to isolate the southern Odesa region from the rest of Ukraine, paralyze logistics, and instill fear among the civilian population.
Overall, Russia’s actions have two interconnected objectives: logistical paralysis in southern Odesa and psychological pressure on civilians. A separate threat comes from increased Russian activity in Transnistria, which raises the risk of sabotage and provocations along Ukraine’s southern border and could destabilize Moldova.
Bessarabia, geographically separated from the rest of Odesa region by the Dniester estuary and a narrow land corridor, is especially vulnerable. The main bridge on the Bugaz Spit, connecting the region to Odesa, has been systematically targeted by Russia since spring 2022. The alternative Odesa–Reni route, partially passing through Moldova, has also recently become a target, critically affecting access to the Danube ports of Kiliya, Izmail, and Reni.
Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba reported that Russia attempted nearly twenty times in a single day to destroy the Dniester bridge. Stable transportation is only possible with effective drone protection, and Ukrainian authorities plan to expand logistics routes, including pontoon crossings.
Scale of Attacks
Since the beginning of December, the intensity of strikes has increased:
- December 19: Massive strikes on the Dniester bridge, cargo movement halted
- December 25: Attacks on ports and industrial facilities, one person killed, two injured
- December 27: Repeat strikes on port and grain infrastructure
- December 30: Second strike on the Black Sea port, oil tanks caught fire
Military experts note that Russia is using Shahed drones with online guidance and ballistic missiles with cluster warheads to maximize damage and instill fear among the population.
Despite the massive attacks, there is currently no direct threat of a ground or naval assault on Odesa. However, the Kremlin continues planning scenarios to occupy key port cities to isolate Ukraine from the Black Sea.
