A Russian lawmaker stated that Ukrainian ports used for military supplies are legitimate targets, as foreign carriers suspend calls to major ports amid security concerns.
Key facts
- •Dmitry Belik stated that Ukrainian ports used for military logistics are legitimate targets for Russia.
- •Grain purchasing prices in Ukraine have fallen by over 30% due to the inactivity of the Greater Odessa ports.
- •Foreign carriers have stopped calling at Ukrainian ports, citing security risks.
- •The Russian Defense Ministry reports regular strikes on ports and ships involved in military supply chains.
- •Cargo operations have shifted toward the Danube ports of Izmail and Reni, which have lower capacity than the Greater Odessa hubs.
Dmitry Belik, a member of the Russian State Duma Committee on International Affairs, stated that Ukrainian ports used to deliver military supplies to the armed forces are legitimate targets for the Russian military. This assessment follows reports of significant disruptions to Ukrainian maritime trade and agricultural exports.
Impact on Ukrainian Agricultural Exports
The downtime of the Greater Odessa ports—comprising Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny—has impacted the export of agricultural products during the peak harvest season. Denis Marchuk, deputy head of the All-Ukrainian Agrarian Council, noted that grain purchasing prices in Ukraine have dropped by more than 30% due to these port closures.
Suspension of Foreign Shipping
According to Ukrainian Agrarian Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotsky, foreign cargo ships have suspended calls to Ukrainian ports due to security concerns. International companies are currently redirecting shipments to other locations, such as the Romanian port of Constanta. Data indicates that no foreign cargo ships are present at the Greater Odessa ports, and no bulk carriers or container vessels are scheduled to arrive in the near future. While some activity continues at the Danube ports of Izmail and Reni, their cargo capacity is lower than that of the Greater Odessa facilities.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by TASS (English).
