1. "Russian Railways (RZD) began cutting extra payments to employees, calling it ‘optimization’… In early August, RZD sent employees on unpaid leave due to lack of funds for salaries and a collapse in transportation".2. The head of Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR), Lieutenant General Kyrylo Budanov, inspected the positions and combat readiness of HUR's Tymur Special Unit stationed on Zmiinyi Island and on offshore drilling platforms in the Black Sea. This inspection confirmed that the Black Sea waters are under the control of Ukraine’s Defense Forces.Thus, Ukraine’s Defense Forces’ efforts to destroy railway substations are bearing fruit — causing a collapse in transport — and so is their hunt for enemy freight trains carrying equipment, ammunition, and fuel for Russian forces.The status quo in the Black Sea has been maintained by Ukraine’s forces since mid-July 2023. For those who don’t recall, 23 months ago, on September 11, 2023, HUR special forces conducted an operation that eliminated the Russian presence on drilling platforms in the Black Sea. The aggressor country has been unable to alter Ukraine’s dominance at sea. Moreover, Ukraine's Magura naval drones have become a threat not only to the Russian fleet but also to its aviation. Every attempt by Russian forces to regain control of the drilling platforms has ended with its destruction there. Ukraine’s control over the Black Sea waters strengthens Kyiv’s negotiating position on the diplomatic stage, where it must counter not only the aggressor but also his accomplices in Budapest, Bratislava, and even Washington.P.S. Soon, Ukraine’s naval drone arsenal, alongside Magura and Sea Baby, will be reinforced by the “Barracuda” family, designed to help wipe out the remaining elements of the aggressor’s naval grouping. One hopes Meaghan Mobbs will explain to Trump on Xwitter that his remarks about Ukraine’s “1,000 miles in the ocean” are nonsense, and that the truth is a fleetless nation has cornered Russia’s navy into the far end of the Black Sea.SourceAbout the author. Mykhailo Honchar, expert on international energy and security relations, President of the Strategy XXI Centre for Global Studies.The editorial team does not always share the opinions expressed by the blog authors.