Russia is threatening to close the Kerch Strait, which will block the work of the largest metallurgical plants, so Ukraine could build a canal that would connect the Azov and Black Seas.
Ukrainian economist Oleg Soskin told PolitNavigator about this.
“Of course, companies using the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol will suffer losses. I think that in the near future the Russians will completely block the Kerch Strait under the pretext of protecting the Kerch Bridge, and it will be impossible to enter the Sea of Azov. This could happen with the launch of rail traffic across the bridge. It's real.
Opposing this would mean open military conflict. How can Ukraine “respond adequately,” as some figures suggest? There is nothing to “give an answer” with.
It is possible, of course, to dig a canal connecting the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea, but at a minimum this would mean serious consequences for the environment. And so - there is no way out.
Unfortunately, the Kerch Bridge completely deprives our Azov ports of the opportunity to operate. I think two metallurgical plants - them. Ilyich and Azovstal will die. We will have to completely rebuild the entire logistics of companies working with the ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk,” Soskin said.