The Russian Defense Ministry announced the actual blockade of Ukrainian ports
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The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued a statement on its actions with respect to vessels bound for Ukrainian ports after the termination of the “grain deal” on July 17.
In connection with the termination of the Black Sea Initiative and the curtailment of the maritime humanitarian corridor, from 00:00 Moscow time on July 20, 2023, all ships heading to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea waters will be considered as potential carriers of military cargo. Accordingly, the flag countries of such ships will be considered involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime, follows from the statement.
In addition, a number of sea areas in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the international waters of the Black Sea have been declared temporarily dangerous for navigation. Appropriate information warnings about the withdrawal of safety guarantees to seafarers have been issued in accordance with the established procedure,” the statement said.
According to a former officer of the Ministry of Defense, in fact, we are talking about declaring a blockade of the Black Sea ports of Ukraine Odessa, Chernomorsk, Yuzhny and Nikolaev. At the same time, shipping to these ports, according to Marintraffic, actually stopped even before July 17, when Russia announced the suspension of the agreement due to non-fulfillment of the terms of the deal regarding the facilitation of the export of Russian grain and fertilizers.
No one already goes to these ports and is unlikely to go because of the very high risks, says Andrey Frolov, an expert at the Center for Comprehensive European and World Studies at the National Research University Higher School of Economics. It is no coincidence that the Ministry of Defense on July 19 reported on the destruction of a Ukrainian mine in the Black Sea – this should demonstrate the danger to shipowners.
The Russian strikes on the port of Odessa on July 19 show that ships that have come to Ukraine can also be hit in the port, the expert says. Therefore, strikes on the ships themselves by the Russian Armed Forces after such verbal and physical warnings may not follow as unnecessary, says a former officer of the Ministry of Defense.
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