In brief
The city of Odesa, once an economic stronghold, is now under severe threat from Russian drone attacks. Families are forced to navigate life under constant fear and uncertainty, as the conflict intensifies and critical infrastructure is destroyed. Residents share their experiences of living in a war zone, from power outages to the psychological toll on children and the community's resilience.
From Mariia's 16th-floor flat, the calm waters of the Black Sea stretch out into the horizon beneath the fading twilight.
Up here you can see and hear when the drones come, she says, standing by a wall-length, floor-to-ceiling window. When they hit buildings and homes in the city of Odesa down below we see all the fires too.
Her daughter Eva, who is nine, has learned the shapes and sounds of the objects that zoom through the sky on a daily basis. She proudly shows off a list of social media channels she checks when the air raid alerts go off.
She knows whether what's coming is a risk or a threat, and that calms her down, her father Sergii says.
There is scarcely a place in Ukraine that has not been targeted since Russia launched its full-scale invasion nearly four years ago.
But in recent weeks Odesa – Ukraine's third largest city – has come under sustained attack. Through strikes on port and energy infrastructure, Russia is trying to cripple the region's economy and dent the population's morale.
Moscow targets not only facilities but also civilian life; its drones regularly crash into high-rise buildings, exploding on impact. The consequences are often deadly.
Families like that of Mariia and Sergii, originally from Kherson, now weigh their options as attacks intensify. They left Kherson as soon as the invasion started in 2022, moving to Odesa for safety, but as conditions worsen, they contemplate escaping once again.
War is only about economics, and Odesa for the Russians is about infrastructure, so they will do their best to conquer it, Sergii reflects.
Odesa has always held significant economic importance, with its ports being vital for Ukraine, especially with land routes cut off. The city is now under siege, affecting power supply, safety, and overall livelihood.
Currently, almost a million people in Odesa face power outages and frigid winter temperatures, drastically affecting life and community cohesion.
As the strikes surge, residents have grown careless about safety, struggling to adapt to a harsh reality of air raid alerts and devastating losses.
Despite the ongoing struggle, the resilience and hope for peace remain in the heart of Odesa, as families cling to normalcy and fight for survival amidst the turmoil.
