“To push for negotiations": ISW names purpose of Russian strikes on Ukraine's port infrastructure

The Institute for the Study of War reported the information.

The Russian Armed Forces regularly continue to attack Ukrainian ports, killing people and destroying civilian ships. At the same time, Russian ultra-nationalist bloggers are responding to the attacks with rhetoric that supports the Kremlin's existing narratives aimed at undermining confidence in the grain corridor and trying to justify the attacks.

According to analysts, the Russians explicitly called for further Russian strikes on Ukrainian grain infrastructure, civilian vessels in Ukrainian ports, and other targets that would further cripple Ukraine's economic potential.

“ISW recently assessed that Russian strikes against civilian vessels and other grain corridor infrastructure are almost certainly intended to undermine Western confidence in Ukraine's ability to enforce and defend the corridor, influence ongoing Western discussions about long-term support for Ukraine, and impede Ukraine's ability to survive economically during the war,” the analysts said.

• On October 14, the Russian occupation army attacked Odesa's port infrastructure with a ballistic missile. As a result, one person died and 8 were injured. Two civilian vessels were also damaged.