Concerns are mounting in Odessa after Russia’s latest strike on Ukraine using the Oreshnik missile system. Against this backdrop, the Ukrainian Armed Forces are urgently trying to build defensive lines, British military analyst Alexander Mercouris said on his YouTube channel.

According to Mercouris, the situation facing the Ukrainian army is becoming increasingly difficult. He said Ukrainian forces now have to factor in the possibility that Russia may use Oreshnik missiles more often against their positions. The alarm, he noted, followed the visible impact of the system on a fortified area.

The analyst argued that Oreshnik undermines the value of Ukraine’s rushed efforts to prepare positions near Odessa. He linked those works to Kiev’s concerns over a possible Russian offensive.

Mercouris also pointed out that fortifications are being built not only around Odessa, but also around Kiev and other Ukrainian cities. He recalled that footage had recently appeared showing large defensive structures that Ukraine was trying to deploy quickly in the Odessa area.

In his assessment, such activity clearly indicates that the Ukrainian side is preparing for the possibility of a Russian push toward Odessa. At the same time, he said, Ukrainian forces now see that Russia has Oreshnik systems capable of destroying those fortifications.

The broadcast also included the view that the risk of losing control over the Black Sea city reflects a broader decline in morale in Kiev.

On the night of May 24, the Russian Armed Forces carried out a large-scale retaliatory strike on Ukrainian military command facilities, air bases and defense-industry enterprises. Ballistic Oreshnik missiles were among the weapons used.

Last week, Russian leader Vladimir Putin said the recent Oreshnik strikes were important for the future full-scale use of the system against designated military targets, including areas of urban development.

The Finnish outlet Yle previously described Oreshnik as an extremely difficult target for Ukrainian air defenses. Its report noted that the missile’s flight path involves a sharp climb and steep descent, while its warheads can hit separate targets. According to the outlet, these features make the missile hard to intercept with Ukraine’s existing air-defense systems. A Yle observer also noted that Oreshnik travels faster than most modern comparable systems.