Russia Escalates Attacks on Odesa, Targeting Ports and Power Infrastructure.
Russia has intensified its military campaign in southern Ukraine, focusing on the strategic port city of Odesa. Recent strikes have caused widespread power outages, damaged maritime infrastructure, and claimed multiple lives, underscoring the city’s growing importance in the ongoing conflict.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba described the attacks as “systematic,” noting that the war’s focus may now be shifting toward Odesa. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Moscow’s bombardment aims to block Ukraine’s access to critical maritime logistics, vital for exports of wheat and corn.
Earlier in December, Russian President Vladimir Putin threatened to sever Ukraine’s sea access in response to drone attacks on Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet”—a network of tankers used to circumvent Western sanctions imposed after the 2022 full-scale invasion.
Recent Strikes and Their Impact.
On Monday evening, Russian strikes targeted port infrastructure in Odesa, damaging a civilian vessel, according to the regional governor. The attacks are part of a broader campaign that has caused power outages lasting several days and resulted in multiple casualties.
Sunday night strikes left 120,000 people without electricity and sparked a fire at a major port, destroying dozens of containers of flour and vegetable oil.
Last week, a ballistic missile hit the Pivdenniy port east of Odesa, killing eight and injuring at least 30.
Another attack earlier in the week killed a woman travelling with her three children and temporarily cut off the only bridge connecting Odesa to Moldova.
Zelensky also announced plans to appoint a new air force commander for the region following the dismissal of Dmytro Karpenko over the weekend.
Odesa’s Strategic Importance.
Odesa, Ukraine’s third-largest city after Kyiv and Kharkiv, has become critical to the country’s economy. With ports in Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Mykolayiv largely inaccessible due to Russian occupation, Odesa serves as the main gateway for grain exports. Since August 2023, the city has facilitated a corridor allowing shipments to move along the Romanian and Bulgarian coastlines before reaching Turkey.
Despite ongoing attacks, Ukraine remains one of the world’s top exporters of wheat and corn. Zelensky emphasized the need for international pressure on Russia, stating that without it, Moscow has no intention of ending its aggression.
Diplomatic Developments.
Recent US-led diplomatic efforts in Miami sought to mediate between Russia and Ukraine but produced limited progress. Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, and Ukrainian counterpart Rustem Umerov discussed a 20-point peace plan proposed by Ukraine as an alternative to a US-backed plan seen as favourable to Moscow.
Kremlin aides, including Yuri Ushakov, dismissed European and Ukrainian changes to the plan as unlikely to advance peace. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov accused EU nations of seeking to undermine potential Russia-US agreements and of being “possessed by a maniacal” fear of Russian aggression. Putin reiterated in November that Russia has no plans to attack Europe but expressed willingness to formalize that commitment in writing.
Ongoing Threats to Kyiv.
The conflict also continued in the capital. On Tuesday morning, Russian air attacks targeted Kyiv. The Kyiv military administration reported that air defence forces were actively neutralizing the threat, and no immediate casualties or damage were reported.
Odesa remains at the forefront of the war, with its ports, power systems, and civilians increasingly under threat as Russia seeks to disrupt Ukraine’s economic lifelines and maritime access.
