After a drone attack on its Black Sea fleet, Russia scraps the grain deal with Ukraine. According to Kiev, more than 200 ships are stuck as a result, some have loaded essential staple foods. Moscow, meanwhile, blames Ukraine.
According to Ukrainian sources, more than 200 cargo ships have been suspended because of Russia’s withdrawal from the grain export agreement. Since Ukraine has not received permission from the Joint Coordination Center to pass through the safe corridor, “218 ships are blocked in their current position,” the Ministry of Transport said via Telegram. Accordingly, 22 ships with agricultural goods are ready to leave Ukrainian ports. 95 other ships have already left the ports and are awaiting final clearance to proceed to their destinations. 101 empty ships were awaiting clearance to enter Ukrainian ports.
Meanwhile, the Russian military gave alleged details of the attack by floating drones on the Black Sea Fleet base in Sevastopol on the Crimean peninsula. Moscow used Saturday morning’s attack as an opportunity to suspend the safe-conduct agreement for ship shipments of Ukrainian grain.
The Russian Defense Ministry in Moscow announced that the remote-controlled combat boats were launched at night near the Ukrainian port of Odessa. The boats initially used the sea corridor set aside for transporting grain, and then set course for Sevastopol. Evidence of this was not attached to the written communication. Russian experts read the route from the electronics of the swimming drones. It can be assumed that at least one drone at sea was launched from one of the grain ships. This was also not documented – no ship name was given either. The navigation technology of the kayak-shaped boats came from Canada, it said.
Moscow repeated the accusation that British instructors helped the Ukrainians with the operation. Officially, Moscow speaks of minor damage from the attack by combat drones at sea and from the air. The exact extent is not known. For the Russian warfare against Ukraine, however, it means that the Black Sea Fleet, the heart of the military power in the annexed Crimea, is not safe from attack.
