War in Ukraine: Odessa prepares for the Russian assault

Odessa (Ukraine) is a city major strategic for Vladimir Putin. He “wants it at all costs, it is the cradle of imperial Russia, an extremely important strategic port, especially for the grain trade“, explains journalist Stéphanie Perez, live from Odessa, Sunday March 20. Since several weeks, “the city is preparing for this dreaded assault. A city that has completely barricaded itself“, continues the journalist, who describes a pre-war atmosphere “strange“.

The local anti-aircraft defense is on alert”permed“. “We can still hear this evening shots against Russian missiles and drones flying over the region“, notes Stephanie Perez. Before attacking Odessa, the Russian forces will have to “cause the city of Mykolaiv to fall in their way (Ukraine), 130 km from here“, she recalls. The Russians are bombing it “Iintensely“, at so much so that local authorities claim “no longer have time to warn the population in time to take shelter“, concludes the journalist.