Russian ships regrouping near Odesa, preparing for possible offensive

Near Odesa, Russian ships are regrouping and preparing for a possible offensive. Air defense forces and other units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are ready to repel attacks. Checkpoints were set up on the outskirts of the city.

According to Ukrinform, Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesman for the Operational Headquarters of the Odesa Regional Military Administration, said this on his Facebook page.

"As of March 6, enemy troops near Odesa are regrouping and preparing for a possible offensive. Enemy ships continue to navigate in the Black Sea. But the situation is under control - our air defense and other units of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are ready to repel the enemy's attack," Bratchuk said.

Summing up the results of the defense of Odesa for March 5, the head of the Odesa regional military administration, Maksym Marchenko, stressed that in two days near Odesa "three fighter jets were shot down by air defense units, three pilots were detained. […] Checkpoints have been set up in key areas, and we are tightening control over roads to prevent the activities of sabotage and reconnaissance groups."

"I want to say that we will fight for our Odesa no matter what. And I am sure we will win," he said.

According to him, the authorities are creating specialized food warehouses in every district of the Odesa region so that people do not have food problems in any situation.

Earlier reports said that battalions of the second brigade of territorial defense were being created in the Odesa region.

The war with Russian invaders has been going on in Ukraine since February 24.