Russian authorities have suspended shipping on the Azov-Don Canal, which links the Don River to the Sea of Azov and is used, among other things, by grain exporters. Reuters reported this, citing three industry sources.
One of the agency’s sources said border guards also informed shipping companies that from Friday evening they would stop accepting applications to pass through the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea. The border service did not specify when the restrictions might be lifted.
According to Reuters, up to a quarter of all Russian wheat exports pass through the Sea of Azov. The agency notes that Russia remains the world’s largest exporter of this grain.
Reuters says the decision comes amid a sharp increase in Ukrainian attacks on civilian commercial vessels in the Sea of Azov in recent days.
Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, known by the call sign “Madyar”, said on July 10 that drones had struck 48 vessels over the previous five days. According to him, most of them were tankers from the so-called shadow fleet.
According to Robert Brovdi, drones hit 48 vessels over five days, and most of them were shadow fleet tankers.