If Putin wanted Odessa, he and his military leadership didn't design the offensive to support that goal. IMHO, that was never in the cards, because an effectiv

If Putin wanted Odessa, he and his military leadership didn't design the offensive to support that goal. IMHO, that was never in the cards, because an effective amphibious assault would have required obscene and internationally-outrageous damage to civilians and shipping. Or unexpectedly optimistic progress on the Crimean front, which by its positioning needed to fight north and east. Odessa would have added west.