During the week, the situation at the front did not change significantly. In the Donbas, after minor offensives since the beginning of August, the Russian troops reached the outskirts of the city of Bakhmut. From the side of the captured town of Izyum, attempts were observed to advance in the direction of the cities of Sloviansk and the town of Barvinkove. In the southern direction, the advance of the RF Armed Forces in the direction of the town of Mykolaiv intensified.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine inflict regular missile strikes on Russian ammunition and fuel depots in the south of the country, which significantly complicates Russian logistics.
In connection with the possible threat of missile and bomb strikes by Russian troops on decision-making centers and critical infrastructure facilities in Ukraine, especially in Kyiv, security measures have been announced for August 22-24. It was instructed to minimize the number of officials who will ensure the life of Kyiv these days. In particular, civil servants of the government quarter were sent home. Government approval of new types of alarm signals may mean that Ukraine is assessing the significant risks and probabilities of using chemical or nuclear weapons or having infrastructure facilities destroyed that potentially carry an artificial chemical or nuclear hazard.
There are signs that the parties to the conflict (Russia, Ukraine, and Western countries) are preparing for a protracted war. In particular, the United States approved a new military assistance package to Ukraine for $2.8 billion. The overall assistance package provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is the largest. But some money will go towards funding contracts for munitions and equipment that may not hit the battlefield for a year or two. On the whole, Western countries continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine, but foreign donors are likely starting to run out of weapons, mainly European countries.
The head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, V. Zaluzhny, announced the number of dead Ukrainian military at 9 thousand people. This number most likely applies only to the Armed Forces of Ukraine, without considering other power structures (Ministry of Internal Affairs, SBU) and foreign volunteers.
Because there is a stabilization of the situation at the front and a certain balance of power, in which neither Ukraine nor the Russian Federation can launch or carry out a successful offensive, the case at the Zaporizhzhia NPP can act as a kind of conflict switch. Any accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant can lead to an escalation of the conflict and its transformation into a "nuclear" one or a freeze in the name of "humanitarian" goals. Potentially, another “nuclear” track for negotiations is being created.
But in general, there are no prospects for reaching political agreements between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. The Russian Federation promises to tighten the terms of possible peace agreements. And the President of Ukraine, V. Zelensky, excludes the possibility of negotiations with the Russian Federation even through intermediaries because their holding, in principle, is impossible until the Russian Federation leaves all the occupied territories of Ukraine. The President of Ukraine voiced the same position after the meeting with UN Secretary-General A. Guterres and Turkish President R. Erdogan.
For its part, Turkey seeks to resume the negotiation process between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. This is probably why Turkish leader R. Erdogan’s voice hints that Western countries do not provide Ukraine with sufficient assistance.
The grain deal continues to work, but Ukrainian ports’ throughput is still relatively low. There is a high probability that by the end of the first month, the export of grain by sea from Ukraine may not reach even 1 million tons.
One of the Ukrainian budget's most significant problems is the insufficiency and inconsistency of financial assistance from foreign donors. When receiving less external aid, the NBU is forced to carry out an unplanned issue of the hryvnia. The emission of the hryvnia helps to avoid a general collapse of the economy. Still, it will lead to inflation and devaluation of the hryvnia, which in turn will reduce the standard of living of citizens.
It is possible that the murder of the daughter of Alexander Dugin, one of the main ideologists of the anti-Western course of Russia, is part of an information campaign to justify some upcoming harsh decisions of the Russian authorities both about Ukraine, its political leaders, and in domestic politics. In any case, this may be a harbinger of a new escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, regardless of who is behind the organization of its death.
Military situation
Fighting
In the Slobozhansky direction: the city of Kharkiv continued to be subjected to shelling. In the Kharkiv region, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation attacked the area settlement Borscheve north of Kharkiv. On the Izyum direction of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the battles went in the direction of Bogorodichne, Novodmytrivka settlements of Vernopilya, and Kurulka, New Dmytrivka settlement, Dubrovne from the side settlements of Brazhkovki and settlements of Suligovki near the town of Barvinkove.
In Donbas: fighting continued in Seversk, Soledar, Bakhmut, and the region of Donetsk. Under Seversk attack in village Ivano- Dariyvka and village Vesele. In the direction of Bakhmut, the battles were near settlement Bakhmutske, settlement Zaitseve and, village Kodema, village Semygirya. RF Armed Forces attacked with Golden Niva near Velika Novoselka (to the west of the city on the highway from the town of Ugledar). Near Gorlivka, there was an attack on New York. Under Avdiivka Russian Federation attacked Pervomaiske, settlement Nevelske, village Opytne, village Krasnogorivka (north of Avdiivka). Fighting also continues in the direction of Staromykhaylivka - Maryinka. The Russian Federation claims that village Peski has already been captured, but the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine does not confirm this information.
In the South direction: In the Mykolaiv region, the RF Armed Forces advanced in the direction of Vasilka - Blagodatne and occupied the southern outskirts of Blagodatne. The RF Armed Forces are moving towards the road from the settlement of Snegirevka to the city of Mykolaiv from the northeast.
Black Sea-Azov direction: no significant changes. The Coast of the Odessa region was subjected to regular Russian rocket and artillery attacks.
On August 23, Ukraine hosted the second Crimean Platform Summit.
Due to martial law, the discussion took place online. In 2022, representatives of more than 60 countries, international organizations, and NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg confirmed their participation in the event. Polish President Andrzej Duda arrived in Kyiv to personally attend the summit. Issues discussed were: the temporary occupation of Crimea; joint efforts aimed at restoring security and stability in the region of the Black and Azov Seas; further steps in response to Russia's violations of human rights and international humanitarian law in Crimea, in particular against ethnic Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars; the effectiveness of sanctions, their strengthening, and prevention of circumvention; strengthening the policy of non-recognition of any change in the international legal status of Crimea.
At a press conference following the second summit of the Crimean Platform, President Zelensky noted that Crimea is an integral part of Ukraine and will return to the peninsula occupied by Russia by any means available. Also, V. Zelensky said there would be no new truce in the conditions of Russia's occupation of Ukrainian territories. Ukraine will not agree to freeze the front line to appease Russia. The President of Ukraine also stated that " Russia does not think about dialogue at all and never thought about it. If the world shows war weariness in Ukraine, it will be a great threat to the whole world ."
In essence, the President of Ukraine has voiced the official position, which is to restore Ukraine's territorial integrity, including Crimea.
Over the past week, a series of explosions have become more frequent in Crimea, which are called terrorist attacks and sabotage in the Russian Federation. In particular, one can note an attack on the Saki airfield, an explosion of an ammunition depot near Dzhankoy, explosions were also reported in the city of Kerch directly next to the Crimean bridge. There was a hit at the headquarters of the Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol. In general, explosions in Crimea weaken air cover, create a shortage of ammunition, and also harm the military and political image of the Russian Federation. It is becoming increasingly clear that the Ukrainian armed forces are behind the explosions in Crimea in one way or another. In addition, the top leadership of Ukraine makes it clear that similar explosions on the peninsula will occur in the future.
The Government of Ukraine has approved new alarms that report various types of danger. In particular, the Ministry of Digital Development has shown how different signals will sound: an indication of the likelihood of street fighting, a chemical hazard signal; a radiation hazard signal; an air raid signal; evacuation signal. After such an announcement, you should turn on the local radio or television and wait for further information.
The approval by the authorities of new types of alarms may mean that Ukraine assesses significant risks and probabilities of the use of chemical or nuclear weapons or the destruction of infrastructure facilities that potentially carry an artificial chemical or nuclear hazard.
Also, in connection with the possible threat of missile and bomb strikes by the Russian troops on decision-making centers, critical infrastructure facilities, etc. Mass events are prohibited in Kyiv from August 22 to 25 (that is, on Independence Day as well). It was instructed to minimize the number of officials who will ensure the life of Kyiv these days.
Combat maps
The situation in the occupied regions
The crisis around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant
The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and the area in its immediate vicinity continue to be subjected to almost daily shelling, in which Ukraine and Russia accuse each other. In general, the situation at the station is far from being resolved and continues to cause considerable concern to the world community.
Energoatom reports new damage at the Zaporizhzhia NPP. Also, the Ukrainian State Inspectorate for Nuclear Regulation commented in detail on Russia's promise to turn off five of the six power units of the station if the so-called " Ukrainian shelling " will continue. “ The loss of all power sources can lead to failure of cooling systems and damage to the core of the reactor plant, and the release of radioactive substances into the environment,” the agency said. In this scenario, the accident occurred at the Japanese nuclear power plant Fukushima-1 in 2011.
Currently, the IAEA is negotiating with Ukraine and Russia on the imminent dispatch of a mission to the Zaporizhzhia NPP. For their part, Western countries demand that Russia withdraw its troops from the station area and return it to Ukrainian control.
In the UK and the US, statements began to be heard about the possible entry of NATO into the war in Ukraine if a radiation leak occurred at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant due to shelling. Individual officials voice them.
In particular, British MP Tobias Ellwood stated: "Any deliberate damage to the Ukrainian nuclear reactor, with a possible release of radiation, would be a violation of Article 5 of NATO." And U.S. House of Representatives member Adam Kinzinger said, “It's not even up for debate. Any leak will kill people in NATO countries. This is automatic Article 5.”
It is not yet obvious whether these statements are their initiative or the position of certain groups in the American and British elites, or a form of pressure on the Russian Federation agreed with the authorities.
In any case, because there is a stabilization of the situation at the front and a certain balance of power, in which neither Ukraine nor the Russian Federation can launch or carry out a successful offensive, the situation at the Zaporizhzhia NPP can act as a kind of conflict switch. And any accident at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant can lead both to an escalation of the conflict and its transformation into a "nuclear" one or to a freeze in the name of "humanitarian" goals.
The internal situation in Ukraine
Financial situation
The financial situation in the country remains quite difficult. Prime Minister of Ukraine D. Shmyhal said that the state budget expenditures since the beginning of the war amounted to more than 1 trillion hryvnia.
Of the 1 trillion 420 billion UAH (i.e. more than 40%) were spent on the needs of the army:
▪️ UAH 288 billion - for the salaries of the military,
▪️ UAH 135 billion - for the purchase and repair of military equipment, the purchase of ammunition and defense products.
Recall that the Verkhovna Rada increased budget spending by UAH 270.2 billion. (7.3 billion dollars) due to an increase in domestic borrowing.
The main sources of state budget funding for the period from February 24, 2022 to August 16, according to the Ministry of Finance, are military bonds, loans from international financial organizations, as well as bilateral loans and grants. In total, the state budget received about $27.2 billion or UAH 816.4 billion during this time.
On August 23, the Ministry of Finance attracted UAH 278 million from the placement of military bonds. On August 16, the Ministry of Finance placed military bonds for only UAH 71.5 million. - a record low amount from the placement of military bonds without changing rates.
The head of the NBU, Kirill Shevchenko, said that in 2022-2024 the solvency of the hryvnia will almost halve. According to the basic macroeconomic scenario of the NBU for three years, based on the following forecast inflation:
• over 30% — by the end of 2022
• about 20% — in 2023
• below 10% in 2024.
K. Shevchenko called this scenario optimistic, with the condition that until the end of 2022 the hryvnia emission will not exceed UAH 30 billion. per month, and in total by the end of 2022 - at the level of UAH 400 billion. As well as a two-fold reduction in emissions in 2023 and a complete shutdown of the printing press in 2024.
Over the past week (August 16-23), the NBU "printed" another 30 billion hryvnias.
Thus, the total amount of NBU funding through the printing of the Budget has already reached UAH 285 billion. Therefore, it is likely that by the end of the year the National Bank will not meet the emission plan at the level of UAH 400 billion.
One of the most significant problems of the Ukrainian budget remains - insufficient and untimely assistance from foreign donors. At the same time, if Ukraine receives less external assistance, then the NBU is forced to launch a printing press, carry out an unplanned issue of the hryvnia. The emission of the hryvnia will help to avoid a general collapse of the economy, but will lead to inflation and devaluation of the hryvnia, which in turn will reduce the standard of living of citizens.
By the end of the year, cash receipts from international donors in the amount of -$14 billion are expected. According to Yaroslav Zheleznyak, First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Finance, Tax and Customs Policy, in August the Ministry of Finance expected 6 billion in assistance from foreign partners, then lowered expectations to 5 billion. And over the past week, 11.6 billion hryvnias came into the budget. external assistance. From the announced $5 billion in August, so far it has received $1.4 billion and $0.35 billion of a loan from Canada for the purchase of gas.
In general, the need for external receipts from international donors ranges from $3 to $4.5 billion per month. By the end of the year, it is necessary - from $15-$22.5 billion. Conventionally, the shortage of funds is in the range from $1 to $8.5 billion. It should be borne in mind that military spending, which so far amounted to about UAH 130 billion. per month, can only be covered by internal revenues.
Therefore, authorities continue to consider various models for increasing state budget revenues. In particular, now the citizens of Ukraine will be able to quickly buy domestic government bonds through the Diya application , which is also another way to fill the state budget. Also discussed is a new tax model called “10-10-10”: according to Deputy Head of the Office of the President Rostislav Shurma, 10% income tax, 10% personal income tax and 10% VAT, as well as the abolition of ERUs and military duty 3 %. At the same time, it provides for the almost complete abolition of all benefits, increased liability for violations of tax laws and tax access to information about bank accounts to prevent tax evasion. There is currently no consensus on this issue. At the same time, R. Shurma noted that in the discussion of tax reform, the question arises of what will happen to budget revenues in the coming year. Indeed, due to its own income, Ukraine barely covers 30% of its needs. Earlier, the Ministry of Finance reported that tax revenues cover only about 40% of government spending. And military spending is more than 60% of the budget.
The Cabinet of Ministers will allow male business representatives to travel abroad. The Ministry of Economy announced the decision of the Cabinet of Ministers on the departure of men - business representatives abroad. The initiative has already caused considerable dissatisfaction among citizens, since it is obvious that only representatives of large businesses, as well as fairly wealthy people, will be able to use this “privilege” (including to leave the country altogether).
So, to send your employee abroad, the average salary in the company must be at least UAH 20,000 . per month and timely provided tax reporting, there should be no debt on payment of ERUs. At the same time, no more than 10% of employees, but no more than 10 people, can go on a business trip. It will be possible to apply for eVidryadzhennya through Dia . It will be possible to leave for no longer than 7 days, and 7 days before the trip, you need to deposit 200 thousand hryvnias to the account Oschadbank . If within 7 days the person does not return, this amount is withdrawn in favor of the state. This money will be transferred to the needs of the Ministry of Defense, and the company will never again be able to issue new permits for employees to travel abroad, and the existing ones will be canceled. That is, a person will set up colleagues and the whole company. Thus, the authorities actually legalize paid travel abroad for men in the amount of 200 thousand hryvnias (at the current exchange rate - about 5 thousand dollars), which is not a critical amount for representatives of large businesses.
Public opinion.
According to the research of the Sociological Service "Rating" (conducted on August 17-18, 2022), the absolute majority of citizens today would support the declaration of Independence of Ukraine - 97% (86% definitely and 11% most likely). Compared to 2021, this figure increased from 80% to 97% compared to 2012 - from 62% to 97%. At the same time, the present result is higher than the results of 1991. As a result of the referendum on December 1, 1991. supported the independence of Ukraine - 90, 32% of voters.
93% are confident that Ukraine will be able to repel Russia's attack.
20 % - believe that more than a year is needed to win; 40% - six months to a year; almost a quarter estimate the time needed to win up to several months.
Thinking about Ukraine, citizens experience - pride - 75%; sadness - 29%; joy - 26%. About 10% are interested or afraid. The vast majority of respondents identify themselves as citizens of Ukraine - 94%. Half identify themselves as Europeans (about 30% do not). Almost 10% identify themselves as "Soviet man", while more than 80% do not.
86% - believe that the Ukrainian language should be the only state language. 10% support the status of Russian as official in certain regions. 3 % - for Russian as the second state language in Ukraine.
51 % - noted that they speak Ukrainian at home (in April 2022 - 48%), a third - bilingual, 13% - Russian. More than half of the inhabitants of the south and east are bilingual, about a quarter are Russian speakers.
The attitude towards the inhabitants of the Russian Federation, Belarus, the occupied Crimea, " LDNR" after the start of the war has deteriorated significantly. 81% have a negative attitude towards Russians (in April 2022 - 69%, in April 2021 - 41%), 14% - neutrally, only 3% - positively. 52% have a negative attitude towards Belarusians (in April 2022 - 33%, in April 2021 - 4%), neutrally - 34%, positively - 10%.
22% have a positive attitude towards the residents of the occupied Crimea, 23% have a negative attitude, and 45% have a neutral attitude. (in April, 41% were positive, 14% were negative, and 40% were neutral).
To the inhabitants of the so-called “LDNR,” only 14% have a positive attitude towards "DNR/LNR", 47% - negatively, 32% - neutrally (in April 2022 - 27% had a positive attitude, 31% - negatively, 37% - neutrally).
A third of Ukrainian citizens believe that it will be possible to resume relations in 20-30 years, 14% believe that this will happen in 10-15 years, and only 5% consider it possible in a few years.
It should be borne in mind that now polls are not conducted on about 20% of the territory of Ukraine, which is under the occupation of the Russian Federation, and, accordingly, they cannot take into account the opinion of about 10 million Ukrainian citizens (who are in the occupied territories or have emigrated).
The situation around Ukraine
UN Secretary-General A. Guterres and President of Turkey R. Erdogan met with President of Ukraine V. Zelensky.
President of Ukraine V. Zelensky met with UN Secretary-General A. Guterres and President of Turkey R. Erdogan in Lviv.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and UN Secretary-General António Guterres agreed on the parameters of a possible IAEA mission to the Zaporizhzhia NPP. At present, a situation of a probable nuclear accident has developed at the Zaporizhzhia NPP, which is the main reason for the visit of UN Secretary-General A. Guterres to Ukraine.
Ukraine launched a mission to establish the facts of the death of Ukrainian servicemen (captured on the territory of the Azovstal plant) as a result of the shelling of a pre-trial detention center in the village Olenivka (on the territory of the so-called "DPR"). Ukraine also insists that the UN should organize a monitoring mission for the deportees (citizens of Ukraine taken to the territory of the Russian Federation) and prisoners of war (in particular, from Azovstal). During the negotiations, the food deal was also discussed, and possible directions for the further development of the initiative were outlined - its improvement and increase in the level of security of the implementation.
During the meeting between President Zelensky and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the possibility of improving the grain initiative, the situation around the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant and nuclear blackmail, and the large-scale theft of grain by Russia in the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine, as well as issues of defense cooperation were discussed. In particular, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed on the restoration of infrastructure, providing for Turkey's participation in the post-war reconstruction of Ukraine.
After his visit to Ukraine, Turkish President R. Erdogan said in one of his interviews about " those who deceive Zelensky ." In particular, he said that: “ There are many who deceive him. Everyone says “we give , we give ,” but in reality they don’t give anything ,” he said, probably referring to the countries of the West.
After the conclusion of the food deal, Turkey seeks to secure the status of the main mediator between the Russian Federation and Ukraine and is trying, with the assistance of the UN, to achieve the resumption of the negotiation process. In particular, R. Erdogan voices hints that Western countries do not provide Ukraine with sufficient assistance.
But at present, there are no prospects for reaching political agreements. The Russian Federation promises to tighten the terms of possible peace agreements. And the President of Ukraine, V. Zelensky, excludes the possibility of negotiations with the Russian Federation even through intermediaries, because their holding, in principle, is impossible until the Russian Federation leaves all the occupied territories of Ukraine. The same position was voiced by the President of Ukraine after the meeting with UN Secretary General A. Guterres and Turkish President R. Erdogan.
Weapon deliveries.
The United States remains the main and main supplier of weapons for Ukraine. This process was not significantly affected by media scandals regarding possible arms smuggling.
On August 24, when Ukraine celebrates Independence Day and the war is already half a year old, US President Joe Biden approved a $2.8 billion military aid package for Ukraine. As previously reported by Western media, the money will be used to finance contracts for three types of drones and other weapons, ammunition and equipment that may not appear on the battlefield for a year or two. The package provides for the acquisition of air defense systems, ammunition, anti-missile unmanned aerial systems and radars. It will be sent to train and equip the Ukrainian forces. The overall assistance package provided under the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative is the largest to date .
Earlier, US President Joe Biden approved a $775 million military aid package for Ukraine.
Where are included:
- additional ammunition for MLRS HIMARS
– 16 howitzers and their ammunition
- 1000 Javelins
- demining equipment
– 15 ScanEagle drones to assist in reconnaissance of targets for Ukrainian artillery
– 40 anti-mine and ambush vehicles (MRAP), which will allow Ukrainians to move through mined areas
– high-speed anti-radar missiles (HARM) for Ukraine will be aimed at Russian radars
– 1500 tubular missiles with optical tracking and wire guidance (TOW missiles) to destroy Russian armored vehicles
– additional Humvees
– tactical secure communication systems
- explosive ammunition
- night-vision devices
– thermal imaging systems
– optics and laser rangefinders.
Also, a Pentagon spokesman said that the United States is exploring the possibility of supplying Ukraine with new types of weapons that will change the situation in the south and east of the country.
For his part, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz promises to support Ukraine "by all possible means." However, the Ministry of Defense subordinate to him rejected the proposal of the Bundestag deputies to provide Ukraine with even more weapons in order to prevent the Bundeswehr from weakening in the face of the existing threat from the Russian Federation. Due to the arms shortage, the British magazine The Economist advises Ukraine to abandon plans to liberate the city of Kherson this year.
In general, Western countries continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine. But the dynamics of new commitments to help Ukraine is declining. However, funds are generally provided only after a long delay. This is probably due to the fact that stocks of weapons from foreign donors are starting to run out, especially from European countries. What can affect the course of hostilities, in particular, the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Kherson direction is being delayed. But basically the situation will largely depend on the speed of arms deliveries from the United States.
The death of Daria Dugina - the daughter of one of the main ideologists of the anti-Western course of Russia Alexander Dugin.
On August 20, in the Moscow region, the car of D. Dugina, the daughter of the Russian philosopher Alexander Dugin, who is called the ideologist of the “Russian world”, exploded on a highway near Moscow, as a result of which she died on the spot. It is reported that A. Dugin himself was supposed to be in the car, but at the last moment he moved to another car.
Approximately 10 hours before the explosion of the car with Daria Dugin, Alexander Dugin himself published a rather sharp and critical message in relation to the Russian authorities in his telegram channel. It was caused by the news about the next explosions in the Crimea.
Russia's previously unknown "National Republican Army" claimed responsibility for the murder of Alexander Dugin's daughter. This was stated by former State Duma deputy Ilya Ponomarev, who lives in Ukraine.
But the FSB of Russia stated that the murder of D. Dugina was committed by the Ukrainian special services, and the explosive device was activated remotely, that the Ukrainian Natalya Vovk, who served in Azov, was allegedly the perpetrator of the murder. But the fighters of the Azov regiment denied this. They say that blowing up the car is the preparation of public opinion in the Russian Federation for a “tribunal” against the Azov people.
In Ukraine, they denied their connection with the death of D. Dugina. Mikhail Podolyak, adviser to the head of the Presidential Office, said that Daria Dugina was killed by political groups close to the government of the Russian Federation who would like to escalate the war with Ukraine.
Telegram channels and bloggers who support the so-called. "special operation", they began to comment on the death of D. Dugina, blaming Ukraine for it unambiguously and calling for "going to the end."
On the other hand, there are versions that D. Dugin acts as a "sacred sacrifice." And it is possible that her death is part of an information campaign in order to justify some impending tough decisions of the Russian authorities both in relation to Ukraine and in domestic politics. In general, the murder of D. Dugina, as well as the attacks on the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, deal a blow to the reputation of the power bloc in the Russian Federation.
The situation around grain exports
Based on the statement of the Minister of Infrastructure A. Kubrakov , the throughput of Ukrainian ports is currently still quite low. For 20 days of work of the "grain corridor". 27 vessels left the Ukrainian seaports, carrying 670,000 tons of agricultural products on board . Also, 18 ships came under loading, about 40 applications for entering the ports are under consideration. Thus, if this rate of grain export is not sharply increased by the end of the month, Ukraine will not be able to export more than 1 million tons by sea. In general, Ukraine grows 3-4 times more wheat than it consumes. In total, it is necessary to export 20 million tons of products, excluding the new crop. For this, the throughput of ports should be at least 5 million tons per month.
