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

Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Odesa region in December 2025 have a clearly defined economic objective: to undermine the country’s export potential. This is stated in an analysis by The Wall Street Journal, which examines the intensification of strikes on Ukraine’s key port hub. Odesa remains the main center of maritime exports of grain and other 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 avoiding areas over land where air defenses are strongest.

In 2025, Russia sharply increased its use of drones. According to estimates by the UK-based Centre for Information Resilience, about 52,000 drones were launched in night attacks on Ukraine during the year—several times more than in previous years. As a result, Odesa has repeatedly been left without electricity, water, and heating, effectively living under constant threat to both civilian life and economic infrastructure.

Experts warn that if the attacks seriously disrupt Ukraine’s seaborne grain exports, this could lead to lower domestic prices, reduced farm incomes, and shortages of funds for fertilizers and fuel. In the long term, the entire agricultural sector—the backbone of Ukraine’s exports and economy—could be affected. This is why, The Wall Street Journal concludes, strengthening air defense systems is not only a military necessity for Ukraine, but also a critical economic priority.

Tags: Ukraine, export, agricultural products, war, agricultural, ports