--- title: "Zelenskyy announces new plans to defend Ukraine: export diversification and response to strikes on Odesa" description: "πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡¦ Zelenskyy announced new measures to protect cities and grain exports following a series of strikes on Odesa. 🚒 Maersk suspended operations in the Black Sea, and dozens of people died on ships. Ukraine is seeking asymmetric solutions." date: 2026-07-24T18:58:00.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/zelenskyy-announces-new-defense-plans-for-ukraine-amid-odesa-attacks tags: [zelensky, odessa, ukraine-defense, black-sea, grain-export] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Zelenskyy announces new plans to defend Ukraine: export diversification and response to strikes on Odesa ![Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announces new national defense measures against a backdrop of Ukrainian and EU flags](https://xab.info/media/2026/07/24/zelensky-announces-new-defense-plans-for-ukraine-amid-odessa-attacks/zelensky-announces-new-defense-plans-for-ukraine-amid-odessa-attacks-1.webp) 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 β€” 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.