During a working visit to Odesa Region, representatives of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure, led by Yurii Kisel, visited the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority.
Since the beginning of 2026, Ukrainian ports have handled more than 27 million tonnes of cargo. This demonstrates that the sector continues to ensure uninterrupted logistics even amid active hostilities.
Mykola Kravchuk, Head of USPA, reported that since the start of the full-scale invasion, 843 port infrastructure facilities and 172 civilian vessels have been damaged or partially destroyed and 245 civilians have been injured or killed. In 2026 alone, the number of attacks involving 631 UAVs has been many times higher than during the same period last year.
“Under these conditions, USPA’s key priorities are strengthening security and infrastructure protection, maintaining systematic cooperation with the Defence Forces to ensure uninterrupted logistics, and developing the energy independence of ports amid constant attacks on the energy sector,” noted Mykola Kravchuk.
The importance of the port sector for the national economy was also highlighted by Andrii Kashuba, Deputy Minister for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine.
“Despite constant attacks, Ukrainian ports remain a pillar of our economy, ensuring exports and supporting the agricultural sector, industry, and the state’s currency stability. This is possible, above all, thanks to people — our port workers. It is your daily work, professionalism, resilience, courage, and dedication that allow the sector to endure even in the most difficult times,” stressed Andrii Kashuba.
Yurii Kisel, Chair of the Committee, emphasised the importance of ports as critical infrastructure that ensures economic resilience and the country’s export capacity during wartime. He underlined that the Committee remains open to cooperation with the sector and will continue to support initiatives aimed at strengthening and developing Ukraine’s port infrastructure.
As part of the event, the best employees of the maritime sector were awarded distinctions of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Transport and Infrastructure for their significant personal contribution to the development and stable functioning of the sector, many years of dedicated service, and high professionalism.
