By striking Odesa region, Russia seeks to cut Ukraine’s economic lifeline andundermine agricultural exports – WSJ

agricultural products, making it a strategic target for the Kremlin. According to Ukraine’s Ministry for Communities and Territorial Development, around 90% of the country’s agricultural output is exported by sea, while six ports in the Odesa region handled about 76 million tonnes of cargo in the first 11 months of 2025. These routes generate vital foreign currency revenues, support farmers, and help Ukraine maintain its position as one of the world’s leading grain suppliers. The WSJ notes that strikes on port, energy, and storage infrastructure directly hit this export logistics system. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, quoted by the newspaper, said Russia is deliberately trying to cut off Odesa and other cities from infrastructure—killing people while simultaneously weakening the economy by reducing maritime export capacity. Although Ukraine has managed to partially protect shipping, including through the use of naval drones, Russian forces have stepped up air attacks, often ...