A major Turkish shipping company has suspended its voyages to Russia
The Turkish shipping company Akkon Lines has completely suspended calls at Russian ports due to the escalating security situation in the Black Sea. The company cited increased risks to crews, vessels, and cargo.
Earlier, on August 10, Akkon announced the temporary rerouting of voyages from Novorossiysk to St. Petersburg. The company imposed an additional fee of $2,500 for container transport.
The decision to completely stop serving Russian ports was made following another assessment of the situation. On August 21, a drone attacked an Akkon Lines container ship, causing damage and a fire on board. The crew had to be evacuated.
The company reported that cargo from such voyages will be returned to the ports of origin or unloaded at the ports of loading. According to one of the cargo owners, his container from a ship bound for St. Petersburg may be unloaded at the nearest port, likely in Klaipėda.
According to market participants, the Turkish carrier Arkas has also completely suspended operations with Russia. Meanwhile, Mustafa Jan, chairman of the board of directors of Transbosphor Deniz Taşımacılığı, estimated Turkey’s losses from attacks on merchant ships in the Black Sea over the past three months at $20 billion.
This is reported by Russian propaganda media.
Turkey has not found a buyer for the Russian S-400s and may scrap them.
Read also: Black Sea Ceasefire: Why It Benefits Everyone, But No One Is in a Hurry to Agree to It.
Turkey is ready to host direct talks between the presidents of Ukraine and Russia.
Also in Russia, in 2025, the state gained control over 32 strategic enterprises with a total value of about 2.5 trillion rubles. Authorities say the nationalization process will continue.
Demand for vodka is rising in Russia amid rising prices for other types of alcohol and a decline in the population’s purchasing power.
