The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, reported a significant reduction in Russian export volumes at key ports due to Ukrainian long-range strikes. He also highlighted Russia’s attempts to counter Ukraine’s international defense collaborations and its increasing military footprint in Africa.
Zelensky made these statements via his Telegram channel following a briefing from Oleksandr Luhovskyi, head of Ukraine’s Foreign Intelligence Service, regarding the consequences of Ukrainian attacks on Russian logistical and energy infrastructure.
Intelligence data indicates a marked decline in activity at several Russian ports:
- Primorsk — down by 13%,
- Novorossiysk — down by 38%,
- Ust-Luga — down by 43%.
“We believe that these internal Russian figures may be understated. We will continue our operations aimed at reducing Russian oil revenues and export volumes,” the president noted.
Additionally, Zelensky disclosed documents indicating Russia’s plans to obstruct Ukraine’s international defense cooperation, particularly under the Drone Deals initiative. He stated that Moscow views Ukraine’s efforts to attract investments and develop defense partnerships as a key foreign policy challenge, attempting to undermine these initiatives through engagements with countries in the Middle East and the Gulf.
The report also mentioned an increase in Russian military presence in Africa, with approximately 8,000 additional personnel deployed. Ukrainian intelligence estimates that Russia is expanding its use of drone technology in the region through supply chains, local production, and personnel training.
“In our assessment, the expansion of such military activity by Russia may unfortunately lead to the modernization and strengthening of terrorist organizations, transnational crime, and instability in critical migration-sensitive regions of the world,” the president emphasized.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported significant reductions in Russian export activities at key ports due to Ukrainian strikes. He also noted Russia's efforts to counter Ukraine's defense collaborations and its expanding military presence in Africa, raising concerns about potential regional instability.