Russia has stated that navigation in its economic zone in the Black Sea is dangerous due to attacks by Ukrainian sea and air drones, writes Bloomberg.
Illustrative photo / © Associated Press
Russia has officially warned shipping companies about the danger of navigation in its exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea due to increased Ukrainian attacks on vessels linked to the Russian Federation.
This was reported by Bloomberg, citing a bulletin from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
The announcement, published on July 22, states that Ukrainian air and sea drones pose a threat to civilian vessels.
The warning concerns ships near Russian ports
This refers to Russia’s exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea – a maritime area extending up to 200 nautical miles from the coast. It is through this zone that access to a number of Russian ports is provided, including Novorossiysk, which is one of the country’s main export hubs.
According to Bloomberg, the warning comes amid intensified Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the Black and Azov Seas. The purpose of such strikes, as noted by the agency, is to complicate Russian raw material exports and increase pressure on the Kremlin.
Ukraine claims dozens of attacks on Russian ships
Bloomberg refers to information from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, stating that from July 8 to July 20, at least 124 vessels linked to Russia, including 89 tankers, were attacked in the Black and Azov Seas.
Novorossiysk has already restricted vessel traffic
Following the attacks, the port of Novorossiysk imposed a temporary verbal ban on navigation during nighttime hours – from midnight to five in the morning local time. This may affect vessel loading, which is usually carried out around the clock.
At the same time, Russia continues to strike Ukrainian Black Sea ports, including Odesa and Chornomorsk. Due to the deteriorating security situation, shipowners have temporarily suspended vessels from entering Ukrainian ports used for agricultural product exports.
Oil exports from Kazakhstan are at risk
According to the agency, due to shipowners’ concerns, the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) was also forced to suspend oil shipments from its Black Sea terminal this week.
This route accounts for about 80% of Kazakhstan’s oil exports, so the temporary shutdown has already forced Kazakhstan to reduce production.
Bloomberg notes that prolonged disruptions to oil exports via the Black Sea could create additional pressure on the global energy market, especially amid shipping issues in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea region.
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