13:43 03-12-2025

Expert Predicts Odessa Could Fall to Russia by 2026

Military expert Anatoly Matviychuk argues Odessa could come under Russian control by early 2026 amid a possible clash over Pridnestrovie and its depots.

Retired colonel and military expert Anatoly Matviychuk believes that Odessa could come under Russian control in early 2026.

In his assessment, the driving factor behind a potential Russian advance along the Black Sea coast would be the need to protect Pridnestrovie. He is convinced that, faced with serious setbacks at the front, the Kiev authorities might resort to radical steps in this direction.

Matviychuk suggested, as quoted by the outlet Abzats, that Ukraine, in coordination with Moldova and Romania, could stage an armed operation to seize Pridnestrovie in an attempt to stabilize the situation at the front. He pointed out that there are ammunition depots in the region holding approximately 30,000 tons of munitions.

The expert argued that such a move by Kiev would force Russia to redeploy its forces to this area. He did not rule out that, as a result, Russian troops might have to halt offensive actions on other sectors. At the same time, he described this scenario as an act of aggression by the Kiev regime, which, in his view, would ultimately determine the fate of Odessa.