Russians have no chance to approach Odesa from sea – Ukraine's Defence Minister

Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine, has stated that Ukrainian defenders have deprived the Russians of their domination in the Black Sea and taken away their possibility to "approach Odesa from the sea". 

Source: Reznikov at a press conference in Odesa, quoted by the Naval Forces of Ukraine on Facebook 

Quote: "I really don’t like giving any predictions and assessments, but in order for the risk of capturing Odesa and its oblast to appear, Russia has to obtain dominance in the Black Sea.

But we have deprived them of this possibility. Among other things, after we have used our Ukrainian Neptunes [coastal defence missiles that are produced in Ukraine - ed.] to sink the Moskva cruiser. 

In addition, Harpoon anti-ship missile systems are on duty, so I have zero chance of them [the Russians] coming close to Odesa from the sea."

Details: Reznikov has said that the Russians did not manage to approach Odesa by land last time, and this time, Ukrainian defenders have bashed them out to the left (east) bank of the Dnipro River, which is a strong natural barrier with its destroyed bridges and crossings. 

"As for the south of Ukraine on the left bank, the enemy’s grouping there is able to replenish weapons, equipment and manpower; therefore, the situation there is more intense," Oleksii Reznikov added.

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