On July 24, key meetings were held in Kyiv involving the general staff, security forces, and the government. Following these meetings, Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined a strategy to strengthen the defense of cities, villages, and infrastructure, as well as updated plans for grain exports.
New security and logistics measures
In his evening video address, the President emphasized that specific steps have been identified to enhance security levels in the south of the country. Special attention was paid to protecting the grain corridor, which has become one of the main targets of Russian strikes.
"We have detailed the sequence of steps that can provide greater protection to our cities, our villages, our south, and our infrastructure. We are updating the plan for protecting grain exports," Zelenskyy stated.
According to him, Pavlo Palisa and the team of the President's Office will continue working on finding and implementing solutions. Prime Minister Koretsky is preparing alternative economic and infrastructure options aimed at supporting Ukraine's resilience. The government will work on maximizing the diversification of export and import operations.
Escalation of attacks on Odesa and the Black Sea
The situation in the region remains tense. Russia has regularly attacked Odesa and the region, ports, and sea routes over the past few weeks. On July 24, Russian occupiers struck the city again — two civilians were injured. On the day of July 21, two casualties among civilians were also recorded.
One of the world's largest container shipping companies, Maersk, has temporarily suspended service through the Black Sea Fishery Port due to security threats. This decision was a consequence of the deterioration of the situation in the Black Sea.
Tragedies at sea
On July 20, Russian forces struck a merchant vessel flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau, which was leaving a Ukrainian port after loading corn. As a result, 10 people died, including a pilot from the AMPU.
On July 19, an attack on the vessel Golden Leo, leaving Odesa port, claimed the lives of five Indian sailors. The fate of five other crew members remains unknown.
On July 18, a massive strike on the port infrastructure of the Odesa region resulted in the death of one person and injuries to three others.
Asymmetric solutions against challenges
Zelenskyy noted that the scale of challenges requires asymmetric solutions. Ukraine continues to seek new ways to ensure security and economic resilience, despite constant attacks by the enemy.
