Web Desk (MNN); Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Saturday warned that Russia is attempting to block Ukraine’s access to the Black Sea, following an escalation in drone and missile strikes targeting ports, energy infrastructure and key transport routes in the Odesa region.
Russia has launched near-continuous aerial attacks on southern Ukraine, focusing on ports vital for foreign trade and fuel supplies, after Moscow openly threatened to “cut Ukraine off from the sea”. The attacks have intensified even as the United States pursues diplomatic efforts to broker an end to the war, with Ukrainian officials holding talks with US negotiators on Friday and American envoys scheduled to meet Russian officials in Florida.
Speaking in Kyiv, Zelensky said Russian strikes on port infrastructure and logistics were aimed at isolating Ukraine’s coastal regions. He accused Moscow of trying to spread chaos and apply psychological pressure during winter by disrupting fuel, food and medical supplies.
Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said Saturday’s strike on the port of Pivdennyi damaged fuel reservoirs, a day after a missile attack there killed eight people and injured at least 30. A Switzerland-based firm, Allseeds, reported that three sunflower oil storage tanks were set ablaze, killing one worker and injuring two others.
Russian forces have also repeatedly struck a key bridge over the Dniester River near Mayaky, which connects the Odesa region to Moldova and accounts for about 40 per cent of Ukraine’s fuel supplies. The bridge is currently out of service, though Ukrainian authorities have set up alternative routes and a pontoon bridge to keep logistics moving.
Officials warned that Russia’s focus may now be shifting towards Odesa, with further escalation possible as Moscow seeks to undermine Ukraine’s economy. Last week, major Russian airstrikes damaged energy facilities and caused prolonged blackouts in Odesa, while earlier attacks also hit Turkish-flagged vessels in Black Sea ports.
