Following strikes on southern ports, Russian grain is having to be shipped thousands of kilometers to the north

Terminals in Ust-Luga, St. Petersburg, and Murmansk are being adapted for grain shipments, whereas previously, nearly 90% of Russia’s seaborne grain exports passed through the Black Sea. Export volumes fell by approximately 31% year-on-year in July and August, and shipments for September were projected to be roughly half of last year’s levels.

This shift is driven by mounting risks and disruptions to Black Sea infrastructure following Ukrainian strikes. For Russian businesses, this entails longer rail routes and the urgent need to reconfigure terminals that previously handled other types of cargo.

Ukraine links these operations to the need to protect its own maritime exports. Russian strikes on the Odesa region have repeatedly damaged port and export facilities, prompting Ukraine to step up pressure on Russian logistics and the infrastructure supporting port operations.