Russian Attacks on Ports Threaten Farmers with Losses Up to $3 Billion

Russian strikes on the port infrastructure in Odessa threaten Ukrainian farmers with losses ranging from $1.5 billion to $3 billion. Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotsky, discussed the situation with the Spanish Ambassador to Ukraine, Ricardo Lopez-Aranda. The maritime route remains critically important for agricultural exports, as approximately 90% of grain and oilseed crops are shipped through Black Sea ports. Vysotsky noted that alternative routes cannot fully replace maritime transport and will only provide 45-50% of the necessary volumes. The use of alternative logistics will increase costs by 50-70 euros per ton of product. In the fall, Ukraine may face a storage capacity shortage of 11 million tons of harvest. The Ministry of Agrarian Policy is working on providing temporary storage facilities and mechanisms for affordable credit. The Spanish Ambassador confirmed support for Ukraine and readiness to consider assistance in developing alternative logistics and supporting exports.