Russia damaged 13 vessels in Ukrainian ports in December — one-tenth of total since full-scale war broke in 2022

Russian strikes on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports at the end of last year reduced their export capacity to 30% of pre-war levels and complicated shipments of agricultural products and iron ore, Reuters reports.

According to industry sources cited by the agency, 13 civilian vessels were damaged in December, mostly bulk carriers transporting grain and iron ore. This accounts for nearly 10% of the total number of vessels hit since the start of the full-scale war in February 2022.

Due to the attacks, ports were able to fulfill only about 75% of planned export shipments in December. In January, the figure recovered to 84% as the intensity of strikes decreased. The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported that in Odesa region alone, air raid alerts were declared more than 800 times in 2025, and total port downtime exceeded one month.

Agricultural products generate over 50% of Ukraine’s export revenues — nearly USD 23 billion in 2025. According to the Ministry of Economy, Ukraine exported 4 million tons of agricultural products in November, while in December, at the peak of the attacks, volumes declined to 3.7 million tons and remained at that level in January.

Attacks on infrastructure have also led to higher logistics and freight costs, forcing producers to lower prices in order to remain competitive on global markets. Additional pressure stems from power supply disruptions caused by strikes on the energy system.

Moreover, since late 2025, Russia has intensified attacks on railway infrastructure. In 2026 alone, 266 strikes on trains and railway facilities have already been recorded. Damage to tracks, electricity disruptions, and the forced use of diesel traction have extended cargo delivery times to ports and increased transportation costs.