🇺🇦🪝 Ukraine Joins the Middle Corridor: Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi Port to Connect China and Europe
The recently privatized Bilhorod-Dnistrovskyi port in Ukraine’s Odesa region, now owned by the company “Top-Offer,” has signed a memorandum to launch a ferry route with the Georgian port of Poti. This marks Ukraine’s first step in integrating into the so-called Middle (Trans-Caspian) Corridor — a transport route linking China with Europe while bypassing Russia.
The new port owner plans to build a ferry terminal that meets international cargo transportation standards. The planned route runs through Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania — known as the Bessarabia Route.
However, the project faces significant infrastructure challenges:
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🟦 The port is located in the Dniester Estuary, accessible only via the Zatoka Bridge, whose technical reliability is in question.
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🟦 The current channel depth is just 3–5 meters, far short of the 10 meters needed to accommodate large rail ferries. Dredging and modernization are possible but would require long-term efforts and a peaceful environment.
✈️ Despite skepticism, Ukraine’s involvement — even on a nominal level — in the Middle Corridor could be strategically important. Since 2022, this route has become a popular alternative to the Northern Corridor and has received backing from Central Asian countries. The World Bank forecasts that trade volumes along the corridor will triple by 2030.
