Moscow has announced that any ships in the Black Sea heading to a Ukrainian port is a potential threat and carrier of military cargo and therefore a valid target for attack.
“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 en route to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea will be considered as potential carriers of military cargo,” the Russian Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
“Accordingly, the flag countries of such ships will be considered involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime,” the statement continues.
“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,” the statement added. ”
This comes after multiple missile strikes impacted several sites in Ukraine’s port cities destroying 60,000 tons of grain ready for shipment. Russia refused to renew the Turkish and UN brokered grain shipment deal that expired on July 17 due to what the Kremlin described as issues exporting its own grain, calling it a one-sided deal.
