In 30 attacks, Russia has caused $26.1 million in damages to Ukrainian ports since grain deal ended
Russia has inflicted over $26.1 million USD in damages to port infrastructure in southern Ukrainian since it terminated participation in the “grain initiative”, said Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA) head, Yuriy Lytvyn, on Jan. 31.
“Since the grain initiative ended on Feb. 18, 2023, more than 30 combined attacks using all types of weapons and missiles have been carried out on the ports of Greater Odesa and the Danube cluster,” said Lytvyn. “As a result, 200 real estate objects, vehicles, and seven civilian ships were damaged, and five employees of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority lost their lives.”
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USPA preliminary estimates have the damage from Russian attacks on Ukrainian port infrastructure exceeding 1 billion UAH ($26.1 million). The calculations, as well as the attacks, continue.
“Nowadays, modern port operational equipment allow loading thousands of tons per day,” said Lytvyn. “If it is destroyed, God forbid, we will load grain from trucks. If the trucks are destroyed, we will load with shovels. We will continue working and ensuring export as long as it's possible.”
Ukrainian sea ports have resumed their operations, but most ports are not operating at full capacity, said Mykola Gorbachov, President of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA).
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“The infrastructure is damaged, but not to the extent that it hinders the ports' operations,” said Gorbachov. “Will everything be rebuilt? Naturally, it will. However, each company is addressing these issues in its own way. Only a part of the capacity of the ports is being used at the moment.”
In July 2022, the UN and Turkey mediated a deal that allowed for safe passage of civilian cargo vessels to and from Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, pending inspections by Russian officials who verified the ships were not delivering arms to Ukraine.
Russia officially terminated its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, 2023. Moscow also withdrew the security guarantees for navigation in the Black Sea.
The Ukrainian Navy announced on Aug. 10, 2023, new temporary routes for civilian vessels to and from Black Sea ports after the suspension of the grain deal involving the UN, Türkiye, and Russia in July.
100 ships have passed through Ukraine’s temporary grain corridor in the Black Sea, exporting 3.6 million tons of food, U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink said on Nov. 3, 2023. Almost 6 million tons of goods had been exported from Odesa ports by Nov. 27.
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