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Russia Steps Up Strikes on Odesa as Diplomatic Efforts Stall. Russia has ramped up its attacks on Ukraine's southern Odesa region, knocking out power supplies and threatening vital maritime infrastructure. Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said the strikes were "systematic," warning that Moscow's focus may now be shifting towards Odesa. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attacks aim to block Ukraine's access to key sea routes. Earlier this month, Vladimir Putin warned Russia could cut Ukraine off from the sea in response to drone attacks on tankers from Russia's so-called shadow fleet. Recent strikes damaged port facilities, hit a civilian vessel, and left more than 120,000 people without electricity. Odesa remains critical to Ukraine's economy and grain exports, even as fighting intensifies. The escalation comes as US-led peace talks ended without progress, highlighting how far an end to the war still seems.
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