Abstract
<jats:p>The ongoing full-scale military aggression by the Russian Federation against Ukraine since 2022 has drastically reshaped the economic landscape of multiple Ukrainian regions, with the Odesa region standing out due to its geopolitical, logistical, and export-oriented significance. As one of Ukraine’s main maritime gateways, Odesa remains a vital link in global trade chains and agricultural exports despite enduring repeated missile attacks, infrastructural damage, energy shortages, and administrative turbulence. This situation highlights the pressing relevance of studying the region’s economic capacity, especially in light of Ukraine’s broader recovery agenda and the global interest in preserving food security. The article addresses a wide range of interrelated issues affecting the economic functioning of the Odesa region during wartime. It focuses on the resilience of small and medium-sized enterprises, the shifting role of port infrastructure, the adaptation of transport and logistics corridors, and the pressures imposed by security risks and bureaucratic constraints. The analysis includes a close examination of changes in cargo throughput, container flows, and international trade routes via the Black Sea and Danube ports. Additionally, the discussion explores the response of regional authorities to crises related to port access, customs bottlenecks, and critical import bans such as those affecting fertilisers in the agricultural sector. A separate thematic block is dedicated to human capital, covering the role of Odesa’s higher education institutions and vocational training centres in maintaining a functional labour market. The potential of the region’s scientific and educational institutions to support business continuity and innovation in a constrained environment is underscored. Moreover, the article discusses the adoption of a cluster-based development approach as a promising strategy for enhancing regional coordination, stimulating private investment, and leveraging international support in reconstruction efforts. Within this framework, key sectors such as logistics, IT, agro-processing, tourism, and business services are considered in terms of their clustering potential.</jats:p>