In the early stages of this invasion, many, here (and elsewhere), were certain that the port of Odessa was a primary objective on the southern front. Now, well into the third week, not only has Odessa not been taken, but the ground forces that would have most likely advanced westward, towards Odessa, are, instead, advancing northward.
While acknowledging that a bridge along the main highway from Kherson to Odessa was blown by Ukranian forces two weeks ago, possibly making a direct route impassable, and that the advance northward might be to secure an alternate route, is it also plausible that Odessa was, in fact, not a primary objective on the southern front, but a secondary, or even tertiary, objective?