Russia strikes ports and bridges in Odessa region

2025-12-20 15:43:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

Russia attacked the southern Ukrainian port of Pivdeni on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said, as Moscow intensified strikes in the Odessa region along the Black Sea, hitting energy facilities and a key road leading to the border with Moldova.

Russia is carrying out a campaign of near-constant drone and missile attacks in the region, home to vital ports for Ukraine's trade and fuel supplies, as Moscow threatens to "cut Ukraine off from the sea."

The airstrikes escalated even as the United States is leading a diplomatic effort aimed at ending the war, which is approaching its fourth anniversary.

On Saturday, American negotiators are expected to meet in Florida with Russian officials, in the next diplomatic effort to end the war.

Saturday's attack on the port of Pivdennyi hit tanks, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said via Telegram, a day after a missile attack on the port killed eight people and wounded at least 30 others.

On Thursday and Friday, Russian forces targeted a bridge over the mouth of the Dniester River near the village of Mayaki, northeast of Pivdenny, Ukrainian officials said.

This bridge connects the fragmented parts of the region and is the only road leading to Moldova.

Saturday's attack on the port of Pivdennyi hit tanks, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on the Telegram app, a day after a rocket attack on the port left eight people dead and at least 30 injured.

On Thursday and Friday, Russian forces targeted a bridge at the mouth of the Dniester River, near the village of Mayaky, northeast of Pivdennyi, Ukrainian officials said.

"Without achieving visible success on the front, the enemy is trying to terrorize civilians to create internal destabilization. These plans are clear and we are responding to them effectively, together with the citizens of Odessa," said Deputy Head of the Presidential Administration, Viktor Mykyta, on Telegram.

Russian officials have not yet commented on these attacks.

Due to the attacks, Ukrainian authorities advised citizens to avoid this area for land and water travel to Moldova.

Last week, one of the largest Russian airstrikes of the war on the strategic Black Sea region damaged energy facilities and caused a power outage in Odessa, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians in the dark for days.

Airstrikes on ports damaged three ships, registered in Turkey, during December.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has vowed to cut off Ukraine's access to the Black Sea in retaliation for Ukraine's drone attacks on tankers, part of Moscow's shadow fleet used to evade Western sanctions.

Ukraine says these ships are used to transport oil, which is Russia's main source of revenue to finance the war against Ukraine. /REL