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The Strategic Significance of the Russian Volga River System
Die strategische Bedeutung des russischen Wolga-Flusssystems
[journal article]
Abstract The Volga River constitutes the primary component of the Unified Deep-Water System (UDWS) of European Russia, which connects the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Azov. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the significance of the Volga River in this waterway shifted. Concurrently, the efforts of stat... view more
The Volga River constitutes the primary component of the Unified Deep-Water System (UDWS) of European Russia, which connects the Caspian Sea and the Sea of Azov. Following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the significance of the Volga River in this waterway shifted. Concurrently, the efforts of states bordering the Caspian Sea to expand their trade routes increased. In this article, we analyze the role of the Volga River in transporting grain and other goods for export via Black Sea and Caspian Sea ports; military uses of the waterways; and the implications of the ongoing war in Ukraine for Russia's short- and medium-term river transport. We further evaluate the climatic risks posed to the Volga River and Caspian Sea as a result of anthropogenic global climate change, which has the potential to limit transportation via the Volga River. The overall goal of the article is to understand the strategic significance of the Volga River system for Russian commerce, logistics, and security.... view less
Keywords
Russia; commerce; logistics; river; war; climate change
Classification
Economic Sectors
Ecology, Environment
Document language
English
Publication Year
2023
Page/Pages
p. 22-27
Journal
Russian Analytical Digest (2023) 304
Issue topic
Russia and the Global Food Supply
DOI
https://doi.org/10.3929/ethz-b-000643679
ISSN
1863-0421
Status
Published Version; reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0