Since the collapse of the Black Sea Grain Agreement in July, Ukraine has been obstructed from exporting grains and oil seeds. Ukraine has now claimed to have established “sea lanes” free of mines for passage of bulk carriers. In contrast, the Russian Federation appears ready to blockade Ukraine ports and has warned that any ships approaching the coast of Ukraine could be regarded as “hostile”. The threat to interdict merchant ships in international waters became a reality on August 13th. A naval vessel of the Russian Federation stopped, boarded and searched mv. Sukra Okana, a Turkish-owned freighter sailing under the convenience flag of Palau, bound for the Danube delta port of Sulina in Romania. Ukraine characterized the action as “piracy” although the crew was not harmed, there was no damage and nobody ‘walked the plank’
The announcement by Ukraine of mine-free lanes is intended to allow vessels in the ports of Chornomorsk and Odesa to safely depart under the protection of what remains of the navy of Ukraine.
Bottling up Ukraine to prevent export of grains represents economic warfare by Russia and will directly deprive many nations of wheat, corn and barley and drive up prices for these commodities. This will benefit the Russian Federation and affect producers and consumers of livestock and poultry worldwide.