(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Russia is shifting its targeting from Ukraine’s sea export routes to land corridors in a deliberate attempt to further disrupt grain and other commodity shipments and damage Ukraine’s economy, according to the Institute for the Study of War.
Russian forces likely struck a bridge near Maiaky in the Odesa region to interrupt the flow of Ukrainian grain and other goods through an alternative overland route. Ukraine has relied on this land corridor since repeated Russian attacks disrupted its maritime exports. The bridge at Maiaky was previously hit in December 2025.
The Institute for the Study of War said in its latest assessment that Russia has stepped up efforts to undermine Ukraine’s export capacity since July 2026. At that time, then agriculture policy and food minister Mykola Solskyi reported that Russian strikes destroyed 60,000 tonnes of grain at the port of Chornomorsk in the Odesa region overnight on 19 July. Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said on 31 July that Russian forces had damaged more than 20 vessels and significantly slowed operations along the maritime corridor. The Ukrainian Agrarian Council stated on 15 July that Ukraine had lost about one third of its grain export capacity due to Russian missile and drone attacks on port infrastructure.
New Agriculture Policy and Food Minister Taras Vysotskyi recently said Russian strikes are forcing Ukraine to seek alternative routes via the Danube River for grain and other cargo.
The Institute for the Study of War concluded that Russian troops are now likely redirecting their fire from the maritime corridor to the land corridor specifically to obstruct Ukrainian grain exports and worsen Ukraine’s economic situation overall.
Repair work has not yet begun on the bridge crossing at Maiaky, which suffered damage from multiple hits, as the security situation prevents it. Assessment of the structure’s condition continues.
Separately, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said on 9 August that Turkey has proposed a moratorium to Russia and Ukraine on strikes against commercial vessels in the Black Sea.
The value of Ukrainian grain exports affected by these attacks is considerable. The 60,000 tonnes destroyed at Chornomorsk in July would be worth approximately $12 million at current global prices, equivalent to about £9.6 million or €11 million. Ukraine’s total grain export capacity losses, estimated by the Agrarian Council at roughly one third of pre war levels, represent a potential annual export revenue reduction of around $6 billion, or £4.8 billion and €5.5 billion, based on 2025 export values of $23.2 billion.