The city is also at risk from the Russian advance to the east, where forces that have seized the port of Kherson and reached Mykolayiv could push further to Odesa. The West is also not safe, with Russian forces posted in the breakaway enclave of Transnistria, along Moldova’s border with Ukraine.
With threats from so many sides, and in a city with such economic and strategic significance, residents fear that an attack appears almost inevitable.
“We are expecting the attacks from the sea. The whole coastline is mined. And there are tanks and artillery,” the mayor said.
Since Mr Zelensky’s warning on Sunday, Mr Trukhanov said he had been ensuring that residents knew about the risk of shelling and knew where to take shelter.
The mayor, a former army officer, has taken to carrying a pistol for his own defence.
“I can tell you something about Odesa. We will fight until the end to protect every street and corner of the city.”
Mr Trukhanov has spent several years besieged by accusations of corruption and links to organised crime. He strongly denies any wrongdoing, saying the people of Odesa can judge him by his work and have elected him three times.
As part of the corruption allegations, he was reported to have a Russian passport, which he also now denies.
