NATO's Sea Transport to Ukraine Almost Completely Halted

As Russia's military operation in Ukraine continues, NATO countries' military shipments to Kiev by sea have almost completely stopped. With the Russian army's attacks on Ukrainian ports increasing, NATO countries have cut off arms and dual-use cargo shipments to the Odessa region. The accumulation of military cargo at the borders of Poland and Romania has locked down railway lines. The coordinator of a group in Ukraine's Nikolayev city, Sergey Lebedev, stated that due to the Russian army's increased attacks on Ukrainian ports, NATO countries have effectively ceased sending arms and dual-use cargo to ports in the Odessa region. Lebedev said, “There is a large accumulation of cargo at border crossings with Poland and Romania. Railway logistics cannot keep up with the volume previously provided by sea transport.”

Ukraine uses the Soviet standard of wide rail gauge. However, a different measurement is used in Eastern European countries. Therefore, cargo shipments need to be transferred from one platform and wagon to another at the border, which significantly slows down the process.

Lebedev emphasized that land and rail routes are more costly and laborious. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Rodion Miroshnik previously noted that the Kiev regime had used the sea route as a “24-hour open supply line” for arms and military equipment.