Ukraine Freezes 3 Black Sea Ports as Russian Strikes Hit 57 Merchant Ships
Updated
Updated · Foreign Policy · Aug 6
Ukraine Freezes 3 Black Sea Ports as Russian Strikes Hit 57 Merchant Ships
3 articles · Updated · Foreign Policy · Aug 6
Summary
July 23 marked an effective halt to maritime traffic to and from Ukraine’s three unoccupied Black Sea ports after Russian missile and drone attacks made voyages commercially untenable.
Fifty-seven merchant ships were targeted in July, and the Golden Leo was hit by three missiles off Odesa on July 19, killing 10 people before the vessel sank on July 27.
Those attacks have already cut Ukraine’s grain exports by about one-third, doubled freight costs, and put $1.5 billion to $3 billion in farm export revenue at risk this year.
Ukraine says 90% of its agricultural exports normally move through the Black Sea and has asked the U.N. to help secure safe transit, but insurers and shipowners are still retreating from the corridor.
Alternative Danube, truck and rail routes can absorb only a fraction of the lost 2.5 million to 3.5 million tons a month, raising the risk of a broader food crunch when the autumn harvest arrives.