Russia’s strikes on Odesa aim to cut Ukraine's economic lifeline

A day before President Volodymyr Zelensky made his case for more American support at President Trump ’s Mara-Lago resort over the weekend, Russia slammed another wave of drones into a slice of Ukraine’s own prime beachfront real estate: the Black Sea port of Odesa.

- Anastasiia Malenko

Throughout December, Russian strikes have homed in on Odesa, the chief hub for Ukraine’s grain exports and its economic lifeline to the rest of world. The attacks have damaged infrastructure, storage reservoirs and power grids, in addition to killing and injuring dozens of people. Analysts say they reflect how Russia is increasingly seeking out ways to degrade Ukraine’s economy.

“They definitely want to cut off Odesa and other cities in terms of infrastructure. They are striking and killing both people and the economy by reducing our export capabilities through the maritime corridor,” Zelensky said Tuesday, answering journalists’ questions on WhatsApp.

The Ukrainian leader said he spent part of his visit to Florida to press Trump for more air-defense support, including Patriot missiles. He didn’t say whether the U.S. would supply any, only noting that Trump said he would help and that Ukraine would be ready to buy them through its European backers.

Odesa has long been a critical theater in the war.