Russia attacks Ukraine's port infrastructure more than 30 times since mid-2023 – USPA
Russia attacked Ukraine's port infrastructure facilities more than 30 times since July 18, 2023, and more than 600 units of movable and immovable property of the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority were damaged or destroyed since the beginning of the full-scale invasion, the press service of the state enterprise said on Facebook on February 2.
Such data were announced by Head of International Relations of the USPA Oleksiy Panasiuk at Ukraine Reconstruction Forum in Istanbul on January 31.
According to the official, 109 facilities and six civilian buildings were damaged or partially destroyed, particularly grain elevators, grain warehouses, oil and oil products, pipelines, administrative and other buildings, transport, cargo, including grain.
"According to preliminary estimates, the restoration and reconstruction of the Izmail port terminal comprise $1.6 million, and the reconstruction of Odesa passenger terminal - $18 million. To ensure the stable operation of Odesa port, it is necessary to conduct capital repair works of more than 2,000 meters of overpass, which was damaged during the missile attack, with a preliminary cost of $35 million. In total, since February 24, 2022, more than 600 items of USPA movable and immovable property have been damaged or destroyed," the press service quoted Panasiuk as saying.
The USPA constantly works to restore infrastructure, keeps records of destroyed facilities and engages international financial institutions, international programs and funds, such as JICA, USAID, HGBF, World Bank, etc.
In 2024, the USPA also plans to carry out operational dredging of water areas, repair works of roads and railways, maintenance of pilot equipment and upgrade of ship traffic monitoring systems to digitalize processes in the Danube ports.
As reported, a joint Turkish-Ukrainian Reconstruction Task Force was set up at Ukraine Reconstruction Forum in Istanbul. Its work will be focused on the implementation of road infrastructure, water transport and aviation projects.