The "Orlivka" border crossing on the Ukrainian bank of the Danube is out of operation again. Russian Geran-type drones attacked infrastructure in the border area of the Odesa region overnight - the ferry complex and the crossing itself - after which traffic to Romania was halted completely.

The attack was carried out in the Izmail district, on the border with Romania. The regional administration confirmed that the border infrastructure was hit and that the crossing has been temporarily shut down. Ukrainian authorities have not yet given details on the scale of the damage.

A second strike on the same crossing in under a week

This is not a random target. The same international ferry crossing was attacked on the night of 1 September too, when drones hit the building and the grounds of the crossing and fires broke out. Passenger and freight traffic was stopped then, with vehicles redirected to other crossings.

"Orlivka" reopened on 2 September and was operating normally. A few days later - another strike. When the same point is hit twice in seven days, it is no longer an error in the coordinates.

Why one small Danube crossing is worth this much

"Orlivka" links the Ukrainian side of the Danube with Isaccea in Romania and is one of the routes for traffic between the Odesa region and Romania. The same stretch holds the ports of Izmail and Reni, which took on far greater importance for Ukrainian exports during the war - once the sea routes became unsafe, the river remained.

Which is why the strikes here are not only military. They are economic. Reuters reported at the start of September that Russian attacks in the Odesa region are simultaneously hitting port, export and border infrastructure - the three things that allow Ukraine to sell wheat and pay for everything else.

And one detail worth remembering: on the other side of the river is Romania. A NATO member. The drones are falling some fifty metres from a border behind which Article 5 applies. So far every such incident has ended in a note of protest and one burnt-out hangar.

When "Orlivka" will reopen has not been announced.