Russian Naval Vessel Issues Warning Shots to Deter Cargo Ship in Black Sea

Sunday saw a Russian destroyer fire warning shots at a cargo ship in the southwest Black Sea as it proceeded north, marking the first time Russia has opened fire on merchant boats outside of Ukraine since quitting a substantial UN-mediated grain deal last month.

The Black Sea grain pact, which allowed Ukraine to export agricultural products over the Black Sea, saw Russia withdraw in July. Russia asserts that all vessels approaching Ukrainian territorial seas might be armed.

The Sukru Okan ship, which was flying the flag of Palau, was shot at by Russia’s Vasily Bykov patrol ship, according to a statement made on Sunday, after the captain of that ship failed to stop the ship for an inspection.

The ship, according to Russia, was sailing in the direction of the Ukrainian port of Izmail. According to Refinitiv shipping data, the ship was now sailing toward the Sulina port in Romania while passing close to the Bulgarian coast.

If a merchant ship is attacked, the risk of getting caught in the Black Sea, which is the main route both Russia and Ukraine utilize to transfer their agricultural supplies to markets, will increase significantly. Commodity dealers, insurers, and shipowners are already very concerned about this risk.

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Geopolitical Showdown

The agricultural markets for wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, rapeseed oil, sunflower seeds, and sunflower oil are dominated by Russia and Ukraine, two of the world’s leading producers of agricultural products. Russia is a market leader for fertilizers as well.

Moscow and Kiev have both issued threats and launched attacks since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement, causing anxiety in the world’s commodity, oil, and maritime markets.

According to Russia, any ships that approach Ukrainian ports will be treated as potential war vessels, and the nations bearing their flags will be considered combatants on the Ukrainian side. In the Danube, Russia also attacked Ukrainian grain storage facilities.

In reaction to ships approaching Russian or Russian-controlled Ukrainian ports, Ukraine issued similar threats. A Russian cruiser and an oil tanker were also targeted by Ukraine from its naval base in Novorossiysk, which is adjacent to a key grain and oil port.

The movement of wheat and sunflower seeds from Ukraine to international markets, according to Ukraine and the West, is at risk due to Russia’s actions, which they claim amount to a de facto blockade of Ukrainian ports.

Russia disputes that interpretation and claims the West neglected to put into effect a similar accord loosening restrictions on its own shipments of food and fertilizer.

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Source: Reuters