Around 120 ships targeted
According to data cited by monitoring services, around 120 ships heading toward or departing from ports in the Odesa and Mykolaiv regions have been struck. Of these, just 34 were hit during the first week of the operation, while the remainder were targeted at a later stage. This development demonstrates a gradual and systematic effort to curtail Ukrainian navigation and isolate the coastline.
New blow to Ukrainian exports
On August 8, the cargo vessel Emil, owned by a Hamburg-based German company, was hit. The economic fallout for Ukraine is substantial, as direct losses in the agricultural sector are estimated between 1.5 and 3 billion dollars. At the same time, exports of iron ore and iron ore pellets have effectively ceased, a development that led Ferrexpo to suspend operations at its mining facilities in the Poltava region.
6,500 trucks at the border with Poland
As maritime transport faces ever-mounting pressure, Ukrainian freight flows are shifting toward Danube ports and the border with Poland. Up to 6,500 trucks have gathered at border crossings, creating fresh bottlenecks in the supply chain. Ukraine is thus trying to keep commercial corridors to Europe open, but pressure is now shifting to land infrastructureas well.
Zatoka: Two spans of the bridge collapsed
Following the pressure on ports, Russian forces are turning their attention to overland links connecting the rest of Ukraine with the southern Odesa region. On the night of August 3, during a massive ballistic missile attack, the bridge at Zatoka crossing the Dniester Estuary was hit. According to reported information, two spans of the bridge's roadway collapsed.
The railway section remained standing, although it sustained damage.
A fresh strike occurred on August 6, placing a further strain on the situation in the area. Zatoka represents a strategic choke point for transport toward southern Odesa and Danube ports. The importance of this specific infrastructure has been repeatedly highlighted by war analysts.
Mayaky: The second critical strike
On the night of August 9, the bridge at Mayaky, located on the M-15 highway connecting southern Ukraine with Moldova and Romania, was also struck. The strike caused severe traffic disruptions and formed multi-kilometer queues. The bridge serves as a critical link for freight transport toward Danube ports. The ISW assesses that the attack was aimed at disrupting overland exports of Ukrainian grain and other commodities, which have gained greater importance following strikes on sea routes.
Why destroying a bridge is so difficult
The core question now is why a strategic bridge can take repeated strikes without collapsing entirely. The editor of the Fighterbomber channel, a former Su-34 navigator, explains that post-war bridges were engineered with enhanced structural tolerances, assuming they might face missile or air strikes. In some structures prioritized extreme durability in main supports, while others incorporated rapid-repair capabilities. For the total destruction of a bridge requires precision strikes on primary load-bearing points. This infrastructure is engineered to withstand powerful explosions near its structural elements, reducing the likelihood of immediate collapse.
No need to destroy – rendering unusable is enough
There is, however, an alternative strategy. To stop a bridge from functioning does not require the entire structure to collapse. It is enough to render it unsuitable for traffic and subsequently prevent its repair. The rationale is that repeated strikes incrementally compound damage until the structure becomes practically non-operational. This occurred in Zatoka, where two spans of the bridge suffered heavy damage.
From the Black Sea to overland arteries
The most critical element is that pressure is no longer confined to ports and ships. The strategy is shifting deeper inland, targeting infrastructure that allows Ukraine to route goods toward Europe. Military analyst and LPR Lieutenant Colonel Andrey Marochko contends that Russia has already significantly curtailed maritime shipping, but overland corridors via Poland and Moldova remain operational. "To complete the effort, all key supply routes must be severed," he argues. Under the same assessment, Moscow must not pause its efforts, as Ukraine continues to receive backing from a large number of Western countries.
The big gamble: Breaking Ukraine's economic backbone
The battle for the bridges is now directly tied to the battle for the Ukrainian economy. Odesa, the Danube ports, road arteries toward Moldova and Romania, and links with Poland constitute critical nodes for sustaining Ukrainian exports. The strike on the Mayaky bridge on August 9 has already impacted traffic and freight transport, while that specific road link is considered vital for accessing Danube ports. Thus, the conflict enters a new stage: it no longer concerns only the front line, but also Ukraine's capability to keep its economic arteries open. The big question is whether Russia will manage to turn repeated strikes into a permanent disruption of key trade corridors, or whether Ukraine will succeed in creating new alternative routes. In any case, the battle for southern Ukraine's bridges is turning into a critical front in a broader economic war, with the Black Sea, the Danube, and overland links to Europe morphing into strategic targets.
Russian nightmare for NATO... Admiral Nakhimov is coming
One of Russia's most powerful warships is preparing to return to operational service, following a modernization process that lasted nearly three decades. The nuclear-powered heavy cruiser "Admiral Nakhimov" now constitutes one of the most heavily armed units of the Russian Navy, with its new arsenal featuring Zircon hypersonic missiles and a vast array of launchers. The ship's modernization has evolved into one of the most costly programs for the Russian Navy, with expenses surpassing 200 billion rubles.
"Admiral Nakhimov" against aircraft carrier strike groups
According to the scenario presented in the Russian publication, the primary mission of the "Admiral Nakhimov" could be countering NATO aircraft carrier strike groups. The vessel, which operates at a speed of approximately 32 knots, can conduct long-duration operations thanks to its nuclear propulsion system. The operational scenario dictates that, before the cruiser even makes direct contact with the enemy, a Ka-31 helicopter will undertake the reconnaissance mission. The helicopter's "Oko" radar system is reportedly capable of tracking targets within a radius of approximately 200 kilometersand transmitting the data to the ship's command center.
The "Zircon" missiles alter response times
The major advantage of the "Admiral Nakhimov" is, according to the report, its Zircon hypersonic missiles. Their speed can reach up to Mach 9, while their range is reported to extend up to 1,000 kilometers. At a distance of 400 kilometers, the flight time is calculated to be a mere 2 to 3 minutes. This means that, in this specific operational scenario, the timeframe between target detection and missile launch is drastically reduced. Sergey Yesenin contends that this capability creates an extremely challenging environment for the opponent, as responding to such a strike must occur within a few minutes.
176 launchers – A missile "umbrella" over the fleet
The "Admiral Nakhimov" reportedly features a total of 176 vertical launchers, of which 80 are dedicated to offensive weaponry and 96 to anti-aircraft missiles. This configuration enables it to simultaneously engage multiple threats, ranging from surface warships and submarines to land-based targets. The ship also boasts formidable air defense, with the S-400 system forming its primary protective "umbrella." The objective is not merely the defense of the cruiser itself, but also providing air cover for the remaining vessels in the naval task group.
The "silent fortress" that cannot operate alone
Despite its immense power, the "Admiral Nakhimov" is not a vessel that can operate effectively alone. Military analyst Andrey Kashkarov points out that a warship of this magnitude will be escorted by other naval vessels, essentially forming a small naval squadron. The rationale is simple: while the "Admiral Nakhimov" possesses massive firepower, it simultaneously represents a highly high-value target for enemy forces. Every deployment of such a ship into open waters is expected to be closely monitored by satellites, aircraft, and submarines.
The major financial question: 200 billion rubles
Herein lies the major financial paradox of the entire modernization program. The refitting of the "Admiral Nakhimov" cost over 200 billion rubles, making it one of the most expensive ventures of the Russian Navy since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Recent reports place the total expenditure near 200 billion rubles, even though the program had launched with a much lower initial budget estimate. Sergey Yesenin characterizes the ship as an costly investment for the Russian state. The underlying question is whether a giant and extremely expensive cruiser represents the most effective choice for reinforcing the Russian Fleet, or if these same funds could have been allocated to build a larger fleet of smaller, agile warships.
The threat of uncrewed surface vessels
The technological superiority of the "Admiral Nakhimov" does not imply that it is entirely invulnerable to attacks. Particular concern stems from naval drones, as a massed attack from multiple vectors could cause saturation of target detection and air defense systems. Andrey Kashkarov warns that, despite its upgraded defense capabilities, a coordinated assault involving vast numbers of drones and decoys could pose a grave risk even to such a powerful capital ship. In other words, the core issue is not simply whether a system can intercept a single missile or drone, but whether it can handle dozens of threats simultaneously.
The Arctic at the core of Russian strategy
The "Admiral Nakhimov" is anticipated to play a pivotal role in the Arctic theater. Andrey Kashkarov assesses that such a cruiser can serve as a mobile command control center for a naval force and as a core element of a regional anti-access system. Irina Karapetova, a military translator and associate professor at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, argues that the warship could assist in controlling Arctic approaches, safeguarding Russian economic interests, and securing the Northern Sea Route.
A floating symbol of Russian naval dominance
The "Admiral Nakhimov" is ultimately much more than just another standard warship. It represents a massive technological gamble for Russia, aimed at integrating nuclear propulsion, hypersonic weapons, and robust air defenses into a single naval platform. Whether this investment of over 200 billion rubles will prove operationally effective in a real combat scenario remains an open question. What is certain is that the return of the "Admiral Nakhimov" to active duty bolsters Russian naval power and introduces a formidable new component to Moscow's strategic planning—particularly across the Arctic and North Atlantic.
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