The city of Odessalocated in southwestern Ukraine, was attacked for the first time this Monday by Russian warships, almost a month after Moscow began the invasion of the neighboring country, on February 24. After the russian troops took control of Kherson, Vladimir Putin’s Army approaches Mikolaiv and Odessawith different attacks in these localities.
Since the beginning of the Russian troop movements at the end of February, the Ukrainian city of Odessa was fortifiedawaiting a foreseeable attack by the Russian Army, butwhy is odessa important for Russia?
Odessa is the third most populous city Ukraine, with just over a million inhabitants – it is only behind kyiv and Kharkov. With exit to the black seais also the main port city of the country, used for the export of its main products -especially mining and agricultural- to other territories.
possible blockage
In fact, the Ukrainian economy is highly dependent on these exports by sea, especially wheat and rye, since Ukraine is considered the europe barnand also from other poorer territories, such as Somalia, Syria or Libya, which are being affected by the war due to the lack of food arriving from the Ukrainian country.
Along the same lines, it is also a point strategic for imports Ukrainians, so Russia could cause a supply blockage if he manages to gain control of the city.
On the other hand, it is also essential Historical importance Odessa, which was founded in 1794 by Empress Catherine the Greatsince it acquired great relevance during the Romanov dynastywith the Russian empire. The locality is also located in the retinas of the moviegoersas the famous Potemkin stairs in the movie ‘The Battleship Potemkin’.
Russian-speaking population
This city, where most of its inhabitants are Russian-speakershas been claimed as part of the Russian Federation by nationalists of the country, despite the fact that since the dissolution of the USSR -in 1991- stayed in the ukrainian part.
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After the first attack by Russian warships on Odessa, the former commander of the United Kingdom Joint Forces Richard Barrons highlighted that this city is the next “logical goal“of the Moscow Army, after Mariupol. According to this ex-commander, now the Kremlin troops “will go for Odessa.” “Logically it is the next place to head in the south (of Ukraine) and there seems to be more ships in the Black Sea pointing in that direction,” he added.
Although Russia expected some cooperation of the population and local authorities of a town that spoke the same language, nothing could be further from the truth. Odessa started to fortify in early March in the face of a possible amphibious attack – bring their ships closer to shore and disembark on foot. Specifically, they installed numerous entrenched positions behind sandbags, barbed wire and anti-tank hedgehogs.
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Eddie is an Australian news reporter with over 9 years in the industry and has published on Forbes and tech crunch.