Reuters: Ukraine has called on Russia to stop attacking civilian ships in the Black Sea
According to Reuters, Ukraine has proposed to the Russian Federation, the aggressor state, an agreement on a mutual cessation of attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea. The Guardian reports this, citing the news agency. As Reuters notes, Kyiv conveyed the proposal through an intermediary, and Moscow has not yet responded.
The Black Sea is a vital route for the export of grain and other foodstuffs from both Ukraine and Russia. The Guardian notes that this initiative may be an attempt to restore operations on this vital grain corridor as the harvest season begins and shipping from Ukrainian ports has come to a near standstill.
Since July, Ukraine has effectively closed this route to commercial Russian shipping. According to The Guardian, Ukrainian drones in the Black and Azov Seas have struck nearly 220 vessels, including oil tankers, grain carriers, and passenger ferries. This reportedly forced Russia to suspend shipping through the canal connecting the Caspian Sea to the Sea of Azov via the Russian river network.
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At the same time, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine’s southern ports. About 90% of grain and sunflower seed shipments are carried out through Odesa and the neighboring ports of Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi. In July, according to the publication, Russian drones killed 10 sailors shortly after the Turkish-owned grain ship Golden Leo departed from Odesa. Among the dead were citizens of Syria and India. Another 16 port workers and sailors were killed in other recent attacks.
Ukraine and Russia had previously reached an agreement, brokered by Turkey and the UN, to halt attacks at sea. The Black Sea Grain Initiative was in effect from July 2022 to July 2023 and ended after the Kremlin refused to extend it.
