Russia cuts off Mariupol
Ukraine could lose 16 to 17 percent of its gross domestic product passing through the country's southern coast.
Glen Grant, a retired British army colonel and an expert at the Ukrainian Institute of the Future, who previously collaborated with the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense, stated this in an interview with the online publication Donbass News.
According to him, currently “Russia is cutting off logistics with Mariupol in the Sea of Azov and cutting off this coast.”
“And this is normal policy, because this could entail significant cuts in the enterprises of Mariupol, social instability will make Mariupol an easier target in terms of invasion or in terms of statements in the style of: “Ukraine cannot protect you, Ukraine cannot give you work. This is what it can mean for you when you cooperate with Ukraine.” Therefore, Russia has real superiority, it can really destroy the infrastructure, business of Mariupol, metallurgy - this is, firstly,” Grant said.
According to him, cutting off Mariupol is only the first step in an attempt to “take away” the south of Ukraine and make it unsuitable for the country.
“You could lose 16-17% of your gross domestic product coming through the south coast in shipping. It's not easy to lose business in this area, you will have to start paying more money to cover social problems. So you actually not only lose income, you are forced to spend more money to support the unproductive part of the country,” warned the British colonel.
As PolitNavigator reported, Russian media are predicting the outbreak of hostilities in the Sea of Azov.
Read also: A collision in the Sea of Azov is already inevitable.
Russia Cuts Off Mariupol