Tabaky checkpoint on the border with Moldova after the Russian attack on August 21, 2026 (Photo: State Administration of Ukraine)
Russian forces intensified strikes on Ukrainian and Moldovan border infrastructure in August to disrupt Ukraine’s overland export routes and create an “atmosphere of instability” at border crossings, ISW said on Aug. 26.
Russian forces are striking key routes Ukraine uses for imports and exports with Europe. From late July through late August 2026, Russian forces attacked the Zatoka and Mayaky bridges near Odesa, as well as the Vynohradivka-Vulcănești, Reni-Giurgiulești and Tabaky border crossings near Izmail.
State Border Guard Service spokesperson Andrii Demchenko said Aug. 25 that Russian forces had struck border crossings in Odesa Oblast along the border with Moldova three times since Aug. 20. He said the attacks were aimed at disrupting Ukraine’s international ground lines of communication, or GLOCs, with the neighboring country. ISW noted that such strikes disrupt Ukraine’s overland export routes amid a parallel campaign against port infrastructure aimed at halting grain exports and undermining the Ukrainian economy.
“Russian forces are likely intensifying such strikes as part of a dual strategy aimed at both isolating Ukraine from Europe and undermining its ability to export grain and other goods, while also creating an atmosphere of instability to discourage Moldova, Romania and international carriers from using these border crossings,” ISW assessed.
Analysts also did not rule out broader political objectives behind the Russian strikes, including intimidation. The tactic is intended to create the impression that Moldova’s accession to Western institutions would cause problems for the country. Russian strikes along the border also increase regional political and commercial risks as Moscow seeks to deter Romania and Moldova from supporting Ukraine.
Russia is increasingly willing to risk strikes along the border and is using them more frequently to test Moldova’s and NATO’s responses to incursions while “normalizing these violations,” ISW reported.
Russian strikes on border crossings with Moldova
During a massive combined attack on Aug. 20, Russia struck a border crossing with Moldova near the village of Kotlovyna in Odesa Oblast’s Reni district with drones. Moldova’s Defense Ministry said a Shahed drone entered the country’s airspace before returning to Ukraine.
On Aug. 21, Russian forces attacked the Tabaky international border crossing in Odesa Oblast with a Shahed drone for the second time in a week. Operations at the crossing were temporarily suspended because of the damage.
On Aug. 25, Ukrainian customs authorities reported an attack that damaged infrastructure at the Vynohradivka-Vulcănești crossing on the Ukrainian-Moldovan border.
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