Deputy Minister of Development of Communities, Territories, and Infrastructure Tymur Tkachenko has said that Russian attacks on port infrastructure have not affected the operations of the Ukrainian Maritime Corridor and that Ukraine’s Black Sea ports are operating normally, with 85 vessels currently approaching the ports.
This was reported by the CFTS portal, citing the Interfax-Ukraine news agency.
"The enemy's aggression and attacks have not disrupted the operation of the maritime corridor. Currently, the ports are operating normally, but we cannot be sure of further attacks and their consequences. We are also seeing an increase in performance compared to last year," he said.
Tkachenko noted that in the first 10 days of October alone, exports through the maritime corridor reached 2.1 million tons of cargo, including 1.5 million tons of grain. By comparison, 1.9 million tons of cargo, including 1.4 million tons of grain, were exported through Black Sea ports in October 2023.
According to him, engineering structures are protecting the critical infrastructure facilities involved in the maritime corridor’s operation. These infrastructure facilities include approach channels, docks, transformer substations, buildings, and diesel generators. Following the recommendations of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, protective booms have been installed at the Black Sea port facilities.
In addition, gabions and reinforced concrete blocks are being used to protect the energy infrastructure at the ports. "However, even with these measures, the enemy can still use various types of missiles, which is why we need a comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety of people and infrastructure. The defense should be strengthened with air defense systems with the support of our partners," Tkachenko said.
