It seemed to be a bitter blow for Ukraine when Russian President Vladimir Putin canceled the agreement on the Black Sea grain corridor on July 18, 2023 quit – that is, the agreement concluded a year earlier through the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey, which, despite the war, enabled the export of Ukrainian grain from Odessa and other Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. One day after the agreement expired, Moscow threatened to view civilian ships that would call at Ukrainian ports as potential weapons suppliers and to sink them.
When the Ukrainian Navy announced on August 8 that it would secure a maritime corridor for exports from its ports despite Russia’s threats, many observers remained incredulous that it could succeed. But four and a half months later, Kiev can show success: until December 19th According to Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakow 302 ships from 24 countries left Odessa and the neighboring ports of Pivdenny and Chornomorsk, with a steep upward trend. After two million tons of cargo in October and 3.8 million tons in November, Kubrakow predicted five million tons of cargo in December via the Navy-secured sea route alone.
Wheat, corn and other Ukrainian grains account for only part of exports by sea. Ukraine is now exporting iron and steel products again, which, along with grain, is the second donkey for the Ukrainian economy. And Kiev has exports beyond those that were previously insignificant Danube ports Reni and Ismail from January to November 2023 compared to the pre-invasion year of 2021 to almost 30 million tons more than fivefold.
The Navy decides for each ship on a case-by-case basis when it can set off
With all the alternative routes and other export routes – for example by rail or truck to Poland and Hungary – Ukraine has already exported a total of 17.5 million tons of grain between June and December 27th. However, in the same period last year, when Moscow left the grain corridor open, the figure was 22.6 million tonnes, according to the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture. But exports increased in December steep, according to the ministry at.
Given Russia’s military superiority and the ongoing significant risks, it is almost a miracle that Ukraine can once again export goods through its seaports. But since Ukraine successfully attacked Russian warships with drones and Western missiles, Russia has relocated many warships, for example to the more distant port of Novorossiysk.
The withdrawal encouraged Ukrainians to partially reopen their ports. Since August, the Navy has decided on a case-by-case basis for each ship when and how it can enter a Ukrainian port or set sail again. Finally, the waters were blocked in many places by the Russians or the Ukrainians themselves with sea mines to prevent the Russians from landing. Exactly what the accompaniment of civilian ships looks like – and who is helping Ukraine with it – remains secret due to the state of war. NATO had After Moscow’s withdrawal from the grain deal in July, it said it would “increase surveillance and intelligence in the Black Sea region.”
Sea transport has one key advantage: it is cheaper than any other. Ukrainian exporters pay between $70 and $80 to transport a ton of grain by sea. By train or truck due up to three times. Of course, it’s not just the route through the Black Sea that remains a risk. Even loading in Ukrainian ports is dangerous: On November 9th, for example, hit Russia with a rocket a ship flying the Liberian flag in the port of Odessa.
A Ukrainian died and four crew members were injured – as a result, premiums for insuring ships that dared to make the dangerous journey to Ukrainian ports rose. The Ukrainian Institute for Strategic Black Sea Studies according to Ships belonging to China are now increasingly calling at Ukrainian ports. They are apparently counting on Putin to do it don’t dare will allow Chinese ships to be bombed.
However, Russia continues to attack Odessa and other Black Sea ports with missiles and drones, as well as the Ukrainian Danube ports of Reni and Ismail. Since the cancellation of the grain agreement alone, Moscow has bombed more than 160 loading stations, grain silos and other facilities in the ports, setting a good 300,000 tons of grain ablaze by the end of November Samantha Power, head of the US aid agency USAID. The United States is providing replacements for destroyed facilities and also helping to increase Ukrainian exports to the country, particularly through Moldova and Romania. From Romania, ships can bring Ukrainian grain or steel to world markets via the port of Constanța.
Just on Wednesday, a freighter hit a sea mine
To secure the sea route began a Romanian and six Bulgarian minesweepers in mid-Octoberto clear coastal waters of mines for export from Ukraine, said Andri Klymenko from the Institute for Strategic Black Sea Studies. Turkey also wants to participate. Great Britain also sends mine clearers to the Black Sea.
The work is not without danger, even for the specialists; in September 2022, a mine explosion left a Romanian deminer unable to maneuver. In early October, a Turkish freighter was slightly damaged while sailing 20 kilometers from the Romanian port of Sulina ran into a mine. On Wednesday, a fire broke out on board a Panamanian ship, according to Ukrainian reports had hit a Russian mine. The captain and a sailor were injured.
Cooperation with Romania is crucial for Ukraine – especially after Polish transport companies blocked the border with Poland for Ukrainians for weeks. In addition to Sulina, Romania is primarily modernizing its largest port, Constanța, and roads and railway lines leading towards Ukraine. However, these connections are also vulnerable. The Zatoka road and railway bridge, which runs southwest of Odessa across a strait and on to Moldova and Romania, has attacked Moscow four times with missiles or naval drones since the raid began, destroying it so thoroughly that reconstruction is impossible, the deputy chief said Odessa military administration middle of December. A new building could take months, if not years. A number of other port facilities destroyed by Russian bombs also need to be rebuilt. Of course, these can also be hit by Russian missiles or drones. Western air defense systems stationed in Odessa and other places are still far from sufficient to intercept all Russian attacks.