The bridge at Zakota is of strategic relevance as there is the only railway line between Odessa and Izmail. The currently only operational ports in Ukraine are the ports of Izmail and Reni both located at the maritime section of the Danube river, and only Izmail is connected via railway to Odessa. Thus the supply chains for some cargo to and from Odessa was re-organized via Izmail and now this important supply chain is interrupted.
Hi Mathias - thank you for writing this! I had some discussions where people considered the rail link but it was mostly in the context of connecting to Romania and we deemed that not to be very relevant. I was not aware that port at Izmail was operational right now given the blockade. I'll keep this in mind!
Off the cuff, can't help thinking that with Tiraspol 100 km from Odesa, Odesa's reputation as an "interesting" port, and who knows what kinds of portable weapons hanging around in sheds and old armories, those targets would be awfully tempting and convenient to Ukrainians who are otherwise pretty far away from the action. (Or even Moldovans, who were exchanging fire with Transnistria not so long ago.)
It's important to realize that Moldovans exchanged fire with Transnistria a very very long time ago. Most people who live by the border travel back and forth on simple IDs just for groceries and simple shopping. I have a house in a border town and most of my neighbors fought in that war. They are old guys now and none of them talk about it like a "glorious past" but much more like a really really sad episode in their personal history.
Transnistrians are not different in this. It's really critical to understand that while this war may present "opportunities" for some groups they do not represent the average people on the ground. There are no grassroots veterans organizations who think it's a great idea to start shooting again. None. If Russia wants this they can get it because the breakaway region is theirs. But be careful to ascribe agency and desire towards war to those who live in the conflict region.
Re: Ukraine that's harder to figure. I don't see their interest in this fight and personally judge Russia's involvement as more likely. But we can't rule it out for sure.
The bridge at Zakota is of strategic relevance as there is the only railway line between Odessa and Izmail. The currently only operational ports in Ukraine are the ports of Izmail and Reni both located at the maritime section of the Danube river, and only Izmail is connected via railway to Odessa. Thus the supply chains for some cargo to and from Odessa was re-organized via Izmail and now this important supply chain is interrupted.
Hi Mathias - thank you for writing this! I had some discussions where people considered the rail link but it was mostly in the context of connecting to Romania and we deemed that not to be very relevant. I was not aware that port at Izmail was operational right now given the blockade. I'll keep this in mind!
Off the cuff, can't help thinking that with Tiraspol 100 km from Odesa, Odesa's reputation as an "interesting" port, and who knows what kinds of portable weapons hanging around in sheds and old armories, those targets would be awfully tempting and convenient to Ukrainians who are otherwise pretty far away from the action. (Or even Moldovans, who were exchanging fire with Transnistria not so long ago.)
It's important to realize that Moldovans exchanged fire with Transnistria a very very long time ago. Most people who live by the border travel back and forth on simple IDs just for groceries and simple shopping. I have a house in a border town and most of my neighbors fought in that war. They are old guys now and none of them talk about it like a "glorious past" but much more like a really really sad episode in their personal history.
Transnistrians are not different in this. It's really critical to understand that while this war may present "opportunities" for some groups they do not represent the average people on the ground. There are no grassroots veterans organizations who think it's a great idea to start shooting again. None. If Russia wants this they can get it because the breakaway region is theirs. But be careful to ascribe agency and desire towards war to those who live in the conflict region.
Re: Ukraine that's harder to figure. I don't see their interest in this fight and personally judge Russia's involvement as more likely. But we can't rule it out for sure.