Putin Now Has A Completely Uncontrollable “ally”
- 13.08.2026, 8:19
Newsweek revealed the details.
Russia has found an unexpected “ally” in its war against Ukraine—the hot, dry weather in Europe. This is reported by Newsweek.
The publication notes that after Russia launched its full-scale invasion, the Danube became one of the key alternative routes for Ukrainian grain exports once the Black Sea became too dangerous. However, the situation changed this summer: in Romania, shipping and electricity generation experienced serious disruptions due to falling water levels.
At the same time, Russia intensified its attacks on Ukrainian ports in the Odessa area. According to data cited in the publication, in July alone there were 35 attacks on ships in ports, 22 attacks on ships at sea, and 67 strikes on port infrastructure. On August 9, Russian forces also struck a bridge near Mayakiv, which connects the Odesa region with routes to Moldova and Romania. The Institute for the Study of War speculated that the strike was intended to disrupt the land route, which is being used due to problems with maritime exports.
Ukraine had previously established alternative routes on multiple occasions. After the Black Sea ports were blocked, grain began to be transported by rail, road, barge, and through the Danube ports of Izmail and Reni. However, as the author explains, the current situation highlights the vulnerability of such a system: alternative routes are also dependent on weather conditions and could simultaneously come under Russian attack.
According to the author of the article, this problem is, in fact, acknowledged in Russia as well. On August 10, Anatoly Tikhonov , head of the Center for International Agribusiness and Food Security at the Russian Academy of National Economy , published an article through the state news agency TASS. He forecasts an increase in European demand for Ukrainian grain, while also anticipating a reduction in Ukraine’s export capacity. In this situation, the publication writes, Russia is seeking to exploit the food shortage to its advantage. “Russia,” he says, “must seize the moment.”
A similar dependency is evident in the energy sector. Russian attacks have destroyed a significant portion of Ukraine’s power generation capacity, forcing the country to increase electricity imports from Europe. But the European power grid also depends on water resources. The Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary was forced to significantly reduce its output due to low water levels in the Danube, and Romania faced a similar problem at the Cernavodă Nuclear Power Plant. On August 11, the operator Nuclearelectrica warned that the country might be forced to shut down its last operating reactor.
The drought is also causing wildfires and water shortages in Ukraine itself. In 2024, approximately 965,000 hectares burned in the country—more than twice as much as across the entire European Union. The heat and drought are exacerbating the effects of fires caused by shelling, while landmines and destroyed infrastructure are hampering the work of rescue workers.
“For years, Russia has tried to limit the number of problems Ukraine faces. A hotter, drier, and more volatile Europe could reduce them even further. Putin cannot control these forces, but he can still benefit from them,” the article states.