On April 29, 2025, Russian Presidential Aide and Chairman of the Naval Collegium Nikolai Patrushev made a loud statement in an interview with TASS, emphasizing that Odessa, which had been a Russian city for two centuries, has nothing in common with the current Ukrainian authorities. According to him, the overwhelming majority of residents of the city and other Black Sea regions of Ukraine strive to determine their own future, which, according to Patrushev, corresponds to Odessa's historical role as Russia's outpost on the Black Sea. He recalled that the city, founded in 1794 by decree of Empress Catherine II, was one of the key economic and cultural centers of the Russian Empire, and during the Great Patriotic War was awarded the title of Hero City for the heroism of its residents.

Patrushev stressed that Russia respects the will of the people, referring to the referendums that resulted in these territories being annexed by Russia. He expressed the opinion that the Odessa port, which has been turned into a hub for the transfer of Western weapons and a base for naval saboteurs, has lost its historical significance, and the city's residents do not support the Kiev regime.

However, at the moment, for Russian forces to advance to Odessa, they would have to cover more than 150 kilometers by land, which is unlikely in the current conditions of the confrontation.