Key facts
- Russia is systematically attacking Ukraine's Black Sea ports, including Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi.
- Attacks have resulted in civilian deaths, including warehouse workers and merchant seamen.
- July saw 57 Russian attacks on civilian vessels and 67 hits on port infrastructure.
- The Black Sea is now considered the most dangerous shipping lane globally.
- Ukraine's export capacity has dropped significantly, impacting global grain and oilseed supplies.
- Odesa's port operations are severely curtailed, with most berths empty and cranes idle.
Russia has intensified its attacks along Ukraine's Black Sea coastline, targeting ports like Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi, severely disrupting commercial shipping and agricultural exports. Warehouse shift manager Svitlana Halchenko recounted the deadly impact of a recent Russian ballistic missile strike that killed colleagues at her workplace in Odesa's main port. Despite injuries, she remains determined to work, but the port's activity has significantly decreased, with many berths empty and cranes idle.
According to Ukraine's port administration, July saw a surge in Russian attacks, with 57 strikes on civilian vessels and 67 on port infrastructure. A Turkish-owned cargo vessel, the Golden Leo, was struck by three Russian missiles, resulting in the deaths of nine Indian and Syrian crew members and a Ukrainian pilot, before sinking off Odesa. The Black Sea is now considered the most dangerous shipping lane globally, with July marking the deadliest month for merchant seamen since Russia's full-scale invasion.
Oleg Grygoriuk, Chairman of the Marine Transport Workers Union of Ukraine, stated that port workers find the current situation more frightening than being on the front lines, citing the short reaction time to missiles launched from Crimea. A rare visit to one of the main ports revealed minimal activity, with only a skeleton crew conducting maintenance on damaged vessels. Senior managers expressed heartbreak over the empty berths, a stark contrast to the usual queues.
Andrey Stavnitser, co-owner and CEO of a major port, noted that Russia's actions are likely retaliation for Ukraine's successful attacks on Russian shipping. He highlighted that the entire supply chain is on hold due to the extreme risks, with shipowners hesitant to call due to the high probability of personnel being killed. The port has been forced to shut down for 15 out of 24 hours due to frequent alerts.
Volodymyr Slavinskyi, trading director for grain exporter Nibulon, emphasized the critical timing of these disruptions during Ukraine's summer grain harvest, impacting farmers' ability to sell crops and reinvest. Ukraine, a major global supplier of grain and oilseeds, has seen its export capacity drop by at least a third. Traders estimate that the ability to deliver around half a million to 700,000 metric tons of Ukrainian grains and oilseeds has already been lost.
Despite the port's dangers, Odesa's city life continues, with beaches packed and public spaces active, though residents are aware of the risks, as evidenced by a recent incident where swimmers removed a Russian drone from the water. A previous incident saw a young woman killed by shrapnel from an intercepted drone on a beach.