---
title: "\"Nominal losses are greater\": Ukrainian Navy says Russia is losing the \"game\" in the Black Sea, as grain shipments from Novorossiysk fall to near zero"
description: "Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Plekhanchuk stated that Russia is suffering nominally greater losses than Ukraine in the Black Sea, and that grain shipments from Novorossiysk are, according to him, approaching zero."
date: 2026-08-25T11:40:00.000Z
lang: en
url: https://xab.info/en/posts/rf-black-sea-losses-grain-export
tags: [black-sea, ukraine-navy, grain-export, russia, maritime-warfare, novorossiysk]
publisher: "XAB.info"
---

# "Nominal losses are greater": Ukrainian Navy says Russia is losing the "game" in the Black Sea, as grain shipments from Novorossiysk fall to near zero

![Cargo ships in the Black Sea amid fog: grain exports from Novorossiysk and the naval standoff between Russia and Ukraine](https://xab.info/media/2026/08/25/rf-chernoe-more-poteri-zernovoy-eksport/rf-chernoe-more-poteri-zernovoy-eksport-1.webp)

## 🎯 Key Points

- Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Plekhanchuk stated that Russia is suffering nominally greater losses than Ukraine in the Black Sea.
- According to him, the Ukrainian civilian maritime corridor continues to operate, and vessel navigation is not stopping.
- Plekhanchuk reported that grain shipments from Novorossiysk have shrunk and are approaching zero values.
- In Russia, according to the spokesperson's statement, the question of the state buying up grain that cannot be shipped through the Black Sea ports is being raised.
- Recently, drones attacked at least five grain vessels near the ports of Novorossiysk and Tuapse.

Dmytro Plekhanchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, stated on a tele-marathon broadcast that in the confrontation in the Black Sea, the Russian Federation is suffering significantly greater losses than Ukraine, and that its grain export is under threat due to shipment problems. According to him, the operation of Ukraine's civilian maritime corridor is being ensured, and the navigation of civilian vessels continues despite enemy attacks, while Kyiv is constantly working to expand its own capabilities in the region. Plekhanchuk emphasized that Russia "is trying to pretend that everything is fine with them," yet in this "game" it is "suffering, if we take it purely nominally, far greater losses than we are."

### Outcomes of the "game" in the Black Sea

The assessment of the scale of losses given by the Ukrainian military is qualitative and, as he himself clarified, "purely nominal" in nature. It is not about comparing specific write-offs of equipment, but about the overall dynamics: according to Plekhanchuk, Ukraine retains the ability to ensure civilian navigation and is building up its potential, whereas Russia is forced to redistribute resources and is losing operational effectiveness in the waters. It is precisely this asymmetry, in the view of the Navy spokesperson, that determines the outcome of the Black Sea confrontation in Kyiv's favor.

### Civilian corridor and navigation

The key practical indicator cited by the Ukrainian side is the functioning of the civilian maritime corridor. Plekhanchuk confirmed that navigation is taking place and is not stopping even against the backdrop of ongoing enemy attacks. At the same time, he stated that Ukraine "will try to somehow increase our capabilities" in the region, indicating a course toward further expanding control over safe shipping routes and protecting export flows.

### The "Molotov school" and diplomatic tactics

Commenting on Moscow's negotiating positions, the Navy spokesperson accused the Kremlin of using "outdated diplomatic methods," which he called characteristic of the so-called "Vyacheslav Molotov school," in which any negotiations are perceived as an opportunity to put forward additional demands. "As soon as the Russians are offered something, they immediately demand some additional bonuses," the military man noted. He cited the period after the end of the "grain deal," when Russia demanded the lifting of sanctions for its extension, and concluded that Russia is in fact itself interested in agreements to stop attacks on vessels.

### The grain crisis inside Russia

In parallel, according to Plekhanchuk, an internal crisis over the export of agricultural products is intensifying in Russia: the Black Sea ports accounted for the largest share of Russian grain exports. The spokesperson stated that in Russia "the question of the state buying up grain that they will no longer be able to physically ship out because of the Black Sea ports" is being raised. In particular, the operation of the key port complex in Novorossiysk, according to him, remains at a minimal level, shipment volumes have shrunk significantly and are "approaching zero," and with the shipment of products there "everything is also very sad for the Russians."

### Contradictory data

It is important to note that the central claim about Russia's "greater losses" is a one-sided and nominal assessment by the Ukrainian side, not supported in open sources by independent verification of specific figures. The official Russian position, on the contrary, according to the same Plekhanchuk, "pretends that everything is fine with them," that is, publicly minimizes the problems. Thus, the two sides present directly opposite pictures of the state of affairs: Kyiv talks about Russia's systemic losses and the collapse of shipments, while Moscow talks about maintaining control. Independent quantitative data that would allow this contradiction to be definitively resolved are not presented in open sources at the time of publication, so both versions are presented as they are.

### Context: strikes on vessels near the ports

The statements were made against the backdrop of intensified Ukrainian strikes in the Black Sea region. Recently, drones attacked at least five grain vessels near the Russian Black Sea ports of Novorossiysk and Tuapse. This episode illustrates the logic that Plekhanchuk spoke about: Moscow is trying to continue grain exports, while Ukraine is deliberately limiting shipments, which leads to a reduction in volumes at the ports and, according to Kyiv's assessment, to the risks of an internal grain crisis in Russia.

## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification

- [Zero shipments and greater losses: the Navy reveals how Russia is losing the "game" in the Black Sea](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/nulovi-vidvantazhennya-ta-bilshi-vtrati-vms-1787657314.html) - Первичное сообщение о заявлении спикера ВМС ВСУ Плетенчука: большие номинальные потери РФ, работа гражданского коридора, сокращение отгрузок в Новороссийске.
- [Russia has trapped itself: the Navy reveals details of Russia's losses in the Black Sea](https://society.comments.ua/news/warrussia/rossiya-sama-zagnala-sebya-v-lovushku-v-vms-raskryli-detali-o-poteryah-rf-v-chernom-more-814535.html) - Ретрансляция заявления с акцентом на потерях РФ и зерновом кризисе; согласуется с базовым текстом.
- [Due to Russia's actions, the Black Sea is on the brink, – Plekhanchuk](https://www.unian.net/ecology/iz-za-deystviy-rossii-chernoe-more-balansiruet-na-grani-pletenchuk-13194858.html) - Дополнительный контекст по оценке состояния черноморской акватории от того же спикера.
- [Russia is suffering greater losses than Ukraine in the Black Sea, – Plekhanchuk](https://www.unian.net/war/chernoe-more-rossiya-neset-bolshe-poter-chem-ukraina-zayavili-v-vms-13479921.html) - Дополнительный контекст по оценке состояния черноморской акватории от того же спикера.

## ❓ FAQ

### Q: Who stated that Russia is suffering greater losses in the Black Sea?
**A:** This was stated by Dmytro Plekhanchuk, spokesperson for the Ukrainian Navy, on a tele-marathon broadcast, clarifying that the assessment is of a "purely nominal" nature.

### Q: What is happening with grain shipments from Novorossiysk?
**A:** According to Plekhanchuk, the operation of the port complex in Novorossiysk remains at a minimal level, shipment volumes have shrunk significantly and are approaching zero values.

### Q: Is the Ukrainian civilian maritime corridor operating?
**A:** Yes, according to the Navy spokesperson's statement, the corridor's operation is being ensured, the navigation of civilian vessels continues despite enemy attacks, and Ukraine is working to expand its capabilities in the region.

### Q: Are the figures on losses and shipments an independent assessment?
**A:** No, this is a one-sided assessment by the Ukrainian side. The Russian position, according to the same spokesperson, minimizes the problems, so in the article both versions are presented in the "Contradictory data" block.