The All-Russian Research Institute of Civil Defense and Emergency Situations, known as VNII GOChS, under the Ministry of Emergencies of Russia, issued a warning about potential incidents involving ships in the Caspian Sea due to falling water levels. The notice appeared on the institute’s official website, outlining heightened risk for all vessel classes in the region.
According to the report, water depths near Makhachkala in the central portion of the Caspian are persistently below favorable norms, increasing the likelihood of accidents on various ships operating along this stretch of coast. The document emphasizes the vulnerability of maritime traffic as salinity and seasonal changes interact with reduced basin volumes.
In southern Sakhalin, the probe notes, river waters are projected to rise by as much as one and a half meters as floods move through the floodplain. This rise could threaten infrastructure in certain communities and the lower reaches of Yuzhno-Sakhalinsk, potentially impacting transportation and local services there.
Meanwhile, observers reported that Azerbaijan and Russia arranged consultations on Caspian Sea issues in Moscow. The discussions, held on a Tuesday, covered a broad spectrum of matters tied to five-party cooperation in the Caspian region. A key point highlighted in the communique was the need to implement decisions from the Caspian states’ sixth summit held on June 29, 2022, to ensure steady progress and regional stability.
Analysts also noted comments from Karavaev, a former economist, who suggested that navigation to and from the Caspian Sea and the Azov region throughout the year could bolster Russian industrial activity. The assessment underlines how reliable maritime routes contribute to supply chains, production, and regional economic resilience, especially in the context of fluctuating water levels and the ongoing cooperation among the Caspian littoral states.