Russian occupation forces are trying to increase pressure on the south of Ukraine by launching targeted missile strikes and drone attacks in the Odessa region.
Natalya Gumenyuk, a representative of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, told Vadim Karpyak, the host of the national telethon Unified News.
Russian strikes on the Odessa region
The presenter asked Gumenyuk why Russia has recently stepped up attacks in the south of Ukraine, in particular in Odessa and the region.
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— This is a predictable sequence of actions. Promoting consistent narratives that they will return to work on the South, that the South of Ukraine awaits the “Russian world”… They promote these narratives on the eve of their quasi-elections and try to get any quasi-victories, — she explains.
The command spokeswoman recalled that at first the Russians wanted to drive Ukrainian troops out of Krynki, on the left bank of the Dnieper, Kherson region. Eventually, the occupiers began “to put pressure on the deeper South” — undermine the Transnistrian region, and then launch drone strikes on the Odessa region.
— These are the enemy's favorite topics. They are clear in their message that “we will press”, “we will save”, as they usually promote. But we must realize that this is a stable practice for the enemy. Even when there is no opportunity to concentrate on the next attack, they continue targeted missile attacks. Even over the past 24 hours, despite Sunday, in the middle of the day, almost at noon, they attacked the Odessa region from the Black Sea, using tactical aviation, — she says.
Natalya Gumenyuk says that the Russian army fired an anti-radar missile Kh-31P, the purpose of which was probably to find out information about air defense.
— When they did not find a suitable target, the missile self-destructed at sea, losing its combat capability. However, as a signal that actually means reconnaissance in force, we recorded this, — she added.
Which regions of the South of Ukraine are a priority for Russian attacks
A spokesman for the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces says residents of the Odessa region should be careful because of Russian attacks. First of all, the enemy's priority remains the coastal zone, since industry and port infrastructure are concentrated there.
— Also the south of the Odessa region — The Danube region, the enemy here also pays a lot of attention, — she warned.
At the same time, Natalya Gumenyuk says that the enemy’s naval group is now “on pause”.
— We observe that it is in a collapsed state. That is, the ships have been deployed to their bases, including launch vehicles. Since February 19, we have not recorded a single launch vehicle on duty. But this does not mean that they cannot be applied. They are equipped, they are ready, and two or three hours is enough for them to go on duty. So they lack the balanced coordination that was provided by an air reconnaissance post like (AWACS aircraft, — Red.) A-50, — she says.
The spokesman adds that the Russians are now trying to increasingly conduct reconnaissance using drones.
