Odesa prepares for all-round defence: large-scale fortification system established
Active preparations for all-round defence are underway in Odesa and Odesa Oblast, including the development of a layered system of fortifications and the involvement of thousands of citizens in the national resistance movement.
This was officially announced by Denys Nosikov, head of the Regional Command “South” of Ukraine’s Territorial Defence Forces.
According to the military official, the region’s defensive engineering network includes a wide range of obstacles. The system comprises anti-tank ditches, metal “hedgehogs”, various traps, mine and explosive barriers, as well as specialised low-visibility engineering structures.
“I cannot go into detail about everything, but this is a powerful and large-scale system. No one will simply walk in here — it will be impossible,” Denys Nosikov assured, emphasising the region’s high level of readiness for any scenario.
Particular attention is being paid to the development of voluntary formations of territorial communities. These units actively involve local residents who are not members of the Armed Forces of Ukraine but have the legal right to possess and use weapons to defend their homes.
“This is our additional resource. They carry out their combat tasks in accordance with operational orders. These are students, pensioners, many people who, due to health conditions, cannot join the Armed Forces,” Nosikov explained regarding the role of civilians in the defence structure.
At the same time, a large-scale programme to prepare citizens for national resistance is being implemented across the region. Training sessions are conducted at specialised training grounds with the involvement of experienced military instructors, enabling participants to be prepared for real combat conditions if necessary.
Thousands of residents of Odesa and the surrounding region have already joined the resistance programme. This creates a reliable reserve capable of quickly reinforcing regular units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and ensuring the protection of the strategically important port city and nearby areas.
Military command is confident that such consolidation of forces and resources will ultimately neutralise any aggressive plans targeting southern Ukraine. Strong defence is expected to serve as the main deterrent against attempts to undermine the region’s territorial integrity.
“The rhetoric and mood of our enemy regarding claims that Odesa is a ‘Russian city’ or anything similar will change over time. And that’s it,” Denys Nosikov concluded, expressing confidence in the resilience of Odesa region’s defensive lines.
Earlier reports noted that Russia has become bogged down in a war of attrition without significant gains.
According to the OSINT project DeepState, over the past week Russian forces captured only 21 square kilometres of territory in Ukraine — the lowest figure since March 2025.
