The low design of Russia’s Kerch Strait bridge cut by one third the list of ships that historically served Mariupol

The low design of Russia’s Kerch Strait bridge cut by one third the list of ships that historically served Mariupol, asserts Vadym Chernysh, the minister responsible for displaced people from the occupied territories. “Russia restricted the height of vessels: from now on, vessels like the Panamax cannot pass through the channel,” he said, adding that metal exports from Mariupol are down by 140,000 tons a month. In addition, he said, the bridge pylons have changed currents, causing silting problems. Russia’s ports on the Azov have half the depths of Ukraine’s ports and are used largely for fishing.