Following the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Initiative and deliberate attempts to destroy port installations by the Russian Federation, Ukraine has managed to restore navigation to facilitate bulk grain exports.  This is being achieved by the used of drones and remotely controlled surface weapons that have successfully attacked Russian naval vessels and port installations.

 During August, the Danube Delta ports Izmail, Reni and Kiliya collectively handled 3.2 million tons of cargo of which 2.5 million metric tons were commodities.  The Port of Odessa exported 4.2 million tons in August while the grain deal was still in operation.  Low water levels in the Danube Delta limit the size of shipments to 10,000-ton capacity, far below the Panamax vessels that load from the major Black Sea ports including Odessa. 

Extending the scope of asymmetrical warfare conducted by the Ukraine will allow resumption of unmolested navigation southward from the Black Sea ports to the Bosphorus. Recent initiatives include attacks on the Kerch Bridge, damage to naval vessels in dry dock and the attack on the headquarters of the Russian Black Sea fleet in Crimea. The deterrent effect on Russian capabilities would be even more likely if Ukraine could deploy air cover to support naval operations.