(KYIV, UKRAINE) – The Ukrainian government is working with international partners on a package of measures to protect export logistics as daily Russian attacks on critical infrastructure threaten to disrupt transport links and weaken the country’s economic stability. President Volodymyr Zelensky said separately that the state is updating its grain export protection plan.
The Ministry of Restoration, Infrastructure and Transport said Russia attacks Ukraine’s critical infrastructure every day, including ports, railways, energy facilities and logistics hubs. The stated aim of these strikes is to halt exports, sever transport connections and undermine the economic resilience of the country.
The Ministry said the government is already developing solutions together with international partners that will allow Ukraine to protect its export logistics and ensure the uninterrupted operation of key economic processes. No details of the specific measures were provided in the Ministry’s statement, which was published on Telegram.
The issue of mounting logistical difficulties at Ukrainian ports is under the direct control of the President and the Prime Minister. A resolution is expected within a period of two to four weeks, according to official forecasts.
President Zelensky confirmed in his evening address that the grain export protection plan is being updated following meetings on Friday with Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi, acting Defence Minister Yevhen Khmar and other government officials, including Prime Minister Serhiy Koretskyi.
Zelensky said the group defined in detail the sequence of steps that can provide greater protection for cities, villages, southern regions and national infrastructure. He said he values the active coordination among all heads of the security and defence sector and thanked Drapatyi and Khmar for their attention to detail and cooperation.
Pavlo Palisa and the Office of the President team will continue to help find and implement solutions. Prime Minister Koretskyi is preparing economic and infrastructure alternatives that can support Ukraine’s resilience, with the entire government team working on maximum diversification of export and import operations.
Zelensky described the challenges as very significant and said asymmetric solutions must be found. These include ensuring fuel supplies for the Ukrainian market, developing additional export routes, creating necessary support programmes for Ukrainian producers and working with partners, neighbouring countries in the region and Brussels. All of this work is already underway, he said.
The President said Ukraine strongly expects understanding from its partners. Air defence remains the first priority where partners can provide assistance. He stressed that all agreements must be implemented and implemented quickly. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and all Ukrainian diplomats must act faster and Ukraine’s needs must be heard more loudly in the world, he said, adding that these are real needs for the protection of life.
Zelensky noted that awareness is growing in key partner countries about what is actually happening in Ukraine, about Russian strikes against Ukrainian people and about Russia’s prolonging of its war.
Ukraine’s export logistics have faced sustained pressure from attacks on port infrastructure in the Odesa region and other southern areas. Several major agricultural commodity exporters and processing companies have suspended operations in recent weeks, citing risks to employee safety and damage to facilities. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that Russia has attacked 31 commercial vessels in the Black Sea since the start of July.
The value of goods passing through Ukraine’s seaports typically exceeds $20 billion (around £15.7 billion or €18.3 billion) annually, with agricultural products representing the largest share. Any prolonged disruption to port operations carries consequences for global grain, vegetable oil and oilseed meal markets.
The Ukrainian Agrarian Council has separately proposed expanding compensation programmes and benefits for farmers and exporters. Taras Vysotsky, a senior agriculture official, confirmed that contingency planning is underway to maintain the flow of goods through alternative routes where possible.