Russian Ships with Unknown Cargo Spotted at Moldovan Port

Vessels from Russian ports have recently begun arriving at the Moldovan Danube port of Giurgiulești. The issue was first highlighted by Andriy Klymenko, a Ukrainian expert on Black Sea militarization and sanctions, who noted that in July, a ship arrived from the Russian port of Novorossiysk, a significant naval base.

Since then, four more vessels from Russian Black Sea ports have docked at Giurgiulești in August and September, according to data from the Black Sea Institute of Strategic Studies, which monitors maritime activity. Klymenko stated that these ships have not been inspected by Ukrainian or Romanian authorities, leaving open the possibility that they could be carrying anything from commercial cargo to other, less transparent items.

The arrival of these ships coincides with Moldova’s upcoming presidential election and a key vote on EU membership scheduled for October 20. The port of Giurgiulești, which has a direct railway connection to the Russian-backed region of Transnistria, could provide Russia with another route to influence Moldovan affairs.

Russia has faced challenges in maintaining its presence in Transnistria, where it has a 1,500-strong force. Since 2015, Moldova has blocked Russian officers from entering the country, and the Russia’s war against Ukraine has closed alternative land routes. The use of Giurgiulești, with its international shipping protections, could circumvent these obstacles, allowing Russia to bypass restrictions.

Ukraine and neighboring Romania have worked to enhance navigation on the Danube as a way of countering Russian threats to Black Sea shipping. Dredging at the mouth of the Bystre Canal has increased the draft for vessels, opening access to Ukrainian and Moldovan Danube ports, including Giurgiulești. The port, owned by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), provides Moldova with access to the Black Sea and has also benefitted Ukrainian ports such as Izmail and Reni.

The presence of these Russian vessels may be a response to these expanded shipping opportunities. On October 4, the Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies warned that unrestricted access to Moldova’s ports could pose a security risk to Ukraine and Romania, recalling how Russia covertly moved troops to Crimea on merchant vessels in 2014.