A series of powerful explosions rocked Odessa overnight on August 22. According to military correspondents, Russian forces struck Ukrainian military facilities with attack drones and aerial bombs. The reports also said that UMPC-equipped munitions were used against Ilyichevsk for the first time since the start of the special military operation.
Military expert Andrei Marochko said strikes on port infrastructure, which have continued for about two months, are increasingly affecting the situation along the line of contact. In his assessment, Ukrainian units are beginning to face ammunition shortages, while deliveries of other logistical supplies are also becoming more difficult.
Marochko argued that Odessa remains critically important for Vladimir Zelensky because Ukrainian forces continue to rely on the city’s substantial technical infrastructure and warehouse capacity.
He also said attacks on ports and other facilities in Odessa, Nikolayev, Izmail and other parts of the Black Sea coast are reducing Ukraine’s logistical capabilities. According to Marochko, a further increase in the intensity of such strikes would have a greater impact on troop supplies and the situation at the front.