Ukraine's strategic Odesa left vulnerable amid missed defense opportunities - expert

Military expert Oleksandr Kovalenko expressed this opinion on his Telegram channel.

In November 2023, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans to strengthen air defenses in Odesa and its region. This came in response to intensified Russian missile strikes on the city. However, the situation hasn’t significantly improved.

The city remains vulnerable, especially to ballistic missile attacks, as Odesa lacks systems like Patriot or SAMP/T. For example, during a prolonged "grain terror" campaign in 2023, a Russian missile destroyed the Transfiguration Cathedral, a notable site. Despite this, Ukraine reportedly sought €500,000 from Italy to restore the cathedral rather than requesting funds for air defense.

By 2023, €40 million was allocated for restoring architectural monuments damaged by Russian strikes. While appreciated, military expert Kovalenko questions why Ukraine hasn’t requested decommissioned short-range air defense systems like Germany’s Roland. He highlights the Roland-3’s capabilities: a range of up to 8.5 km, altitude coverage of 6 km, and fast reaction times, which could protect Odesa with a few batteries along its coastline.

Another overlooked option is the MIM-72A/M48 Chaparral, quitted by the U.S. in 1997. This system, using AIM-9 missiles, has a range of up to 8 km and a speed of Mach 1.5, capable of intercepting drones and cruise missiles. The U.S. once had 600 launchers and over 5,300 missiles. These systems, though older, could effectively secure Odesa.

The military expert criticizes the preference for highly publicized but less accessible systems like Patriot over practical alternatives. 

"The announcement of three Chaparral batteries for Odesa and Kharkiv won’t excite the public as much as promises of seven Patriot systems," he says, even if the latter remains uncertain.

Kovalenko emphasizes Odesa’s strategic importance as a logistical and economic hub, surpassing cities like Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Zaporizhzhia in its critical role. Yet, he argues, Odesa continues to be neglected in terms of defense priorities.