Operation Odessa: Russia's capture of the Danube mouth is an achievable goal

Although the attention of the world community is focused on Donbass, statements by Russian leaders about the desire to return Odessa to the Russian Federation speak about the nature of Moscow’s ambitions in Ukraine. Some may consider such statements populist or unrealistic. However, no one should ignore them, as has so often happened in the last few decades. The National Interest magazine writes about this in an article by political scientists George Scutaru and Matthew Boyce.

Under any opportunity and accompanying circumstances, Moscow will carry out Operation Odessa, the goal of which is simple - to return the entire Black Sea region to the control of the Russian Federation, experts believe. This is not only geopolitically important, but also logically justified - to close the remaining coastline of Ukraine with what has become part of the Russian Federation.



Odessa is the most important and famous city on the Black Sea coast. For Russia it is important not only as economic center and port, but also as something originally Russian, lost as a result of unfair historical changes. Taken together, these factors alone are enough to expect at least attempts to return Odessa and the region back.

For Western analysts, it is quite obvious that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not given up on his goal of expanding territories to the ancestral lands, which includes Odessa. This has been known for a long time. It is now clear that taking the mouth of the Danube is an achievable goal.

While all eyes are on the Donbass, it is important to remember Moscow’s additional priorities in Ukraine, no matter how distant they may seem at the moment, the authors remind.


– write Western political scientists.

In their opinion, a unique opportunity to protect Russia’s security lies in expanding its borders as far as possible, especially at the expense of former lands.