Russia Shifts Focus: Targeting Land Routes for Ukrainian Grain Exports
Russian forces have altered their strike tactics in an attempt to disrupt Ukrainian grain exports. After targeting port infrastructure, they have begun striking alternative land routes used by Ukraine to export agricultural products, according to a report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
The ISW analysts highlighted a Russian strike on a bridge in the village of Mayaky on the M-15 Odesa, Reni highway, which connects southern Ukraine with Moldova and Romania. The attack took place on August 9.
According to local media, the bridge was damaged, while Ukraine's State Border Guard Service temporarily restricted traffic along this section of the road following the strike. However, later that evening, it was reported that traffic across the bridge had resumed.
The ISW believes Russian forces deliberately targeted the bridge in an effort to disrupt an alternative overland corridor that Ukraine has been actively using after Russian strikes complicated maritime exports.