The construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait by Russia creates new threats to Ukraine's national security, in particular, the crossing of the strait after the establishment of the railway arch will limit the movement of Ukrainian ships and damage Ukrainian ports.

This is stated in the statement published on August 30 by the Center for Army Studies, Conversion and Disarmament, the "Observer".

The CIACR stressed that the Ukrainian state should realize the importance of the exclusive maritime economic zone as an important element of its sovereignty.

Experts pointed out that earlier the political leadership of the Russian Federation and representatives of the companies involved in the construction of the bridge stated that this facility would not affect the freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov Seas and, accordingly, the goods turnover in the Azov ports of Ukraine - Mariupol and Berdyansk.

"However, in reality, Moscow has established significant restrictions on the dimensions of the vessels that will pass along the Kerch Strait after the establishment of the railway arch," the statement said..

"For example, due to the height of the arch above sea level of 35 meters, the surface dimension of the ship should not be more than 33 m. This excludes the passage of strait-type vessels such as Panamax - their surface clearance is 37.5 meters. Counting Ukrainian experts testify that the losses of Ukrainian ports only on this limitation will be huge figures. In the case of Mariupol, it is about 25-30% of all transshipment! For example, the risk is the supply of about one million tons of pig iron per year on contracts with US customers, "said CIACR.

Experts also recalled Russia's unilateral cross-straits in connection with the installation of the arch.

"It should be noted that one day of the ship's parking before the strait in anticipation of the opening is estimated at 20 thousand. USD. Given the daily traffic of vessels across the strait at the level of 70-90 vessels per day, it is easy to calculate the losses that directly affect the freight and economic attractiveness of the region as a whole, "experts say..

In their opinion, Ukraine should react to new threats from Russia.

"Among the priority actions, it is advisable: to inform the ambassadors of Western countries in detail about the situation with the strait: the international community must clearly understand the range of possible negative consequences of Moscow's unilateral actions," said CIACR.

Experts are also convinced of the need to consider this issue at a meeting of the National Security and Defense Council with the involvement of representatives of ministries and departments involved and to develop a roadmap for adequate actions and ensure its implementation,.

The Center for Army, Conversion and Disarmament Research is a non-governmental public research organization established in 1999 to promote the development and deepening of the democratization of Ukrainian society by spreading the generally accepted norms of public control over power structures in the world, investigating the processes of disarmament and armament,.