Russia accuses Ukraine of terrorism in Sea of Azov as Kyiv opens new front in war
July 14 (Reuters) – Russia accused Ukraine of terrorism on Tuesday over increasing attacks on shipping in the Sea of Azov, which handles about a quarter of its grain exports.
Kiev’s drone commander said Ukrainian drones hit 11 Russian ships in the Sea of Azov overnight.
Robert Brovdi said in his statement on Telegram that the targets included five tankers, five dry cargo ships and a tugboat, thus bringing the total number of ships hit in the last nine days to 116.
The report did not mention any attacks on grain ships. Industry sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue, told Reuters that many grain ships were hit and caught fire on July 13 and July 14.
“They are standing there like targets in front of a firing squad. In a few days, there will not be a single intact boat left in the Sea of Azov, only damaged boats,” one of the sources told Reuters.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said, “What the Ukrainian regime is doing goes beyond even piracy. Pirates at least plunder and keep the loot for themselves.”
“But here this is of no benefit to themselves or others; the aim is only to harm and intimidate. This is terrorism pure and simple,” Lavrov said.
A Ukrainian military source told Reuters: “The Ukrainian Armed Forces only attack military targets or targets that contribute to strengthening Russia’s combat capability.
“Civilian cargoes are not among them. By talking about attacks on civilian ships, Russia is looking for an excuse to justify its cynical attacks on Ukraine’s civilian infrastructure.”
Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports since the end of last year, and Ukrainian officials say the monthly grain export capacity of ports in the Odesa region could be reduced by a third.
AZOV SHIPPING RESTRICTED
According to Reuters sources, shipping in the Sea of Azov remained limited on Tuesday. It is located at the mouth of the Don River, which flows through Russia’s main southern grain-producing region, and serves mainly smaller coastal vessels.
A source told Reuters on Monday that commercial ships cannot enter or leave the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait or the Azov-Don canal, which connects the sea to the Don River.
In recent months, Ukraine has carried out a series of attacks on Russia’s oil refineries, fuel depots, ports and other energy infrastructure; these attacks caused fuel shortages across Russia and disrupted exports.
Neither the Ministry of Agriculture nor the Ministry of Transport confirmed that Sea of Azov traffic was restricted.
But on Tuesday, the Ministry of Agriculture acknowledged that exports could be diverted to other routes.
POSTS MAY BE FORWARDED
“Given Russia’s significant capacity to transfer agricultural cargo to various regions, supply logistics will be redirected if necessary,” the ministry said in a statement. he said.
Grain exporters said cargoes could be rerouted through deep-water grain terminals in the Black Sea or Baltic Sea ports, but some of these were attacked by Ukrainian drones.
This will allow Russia to meet its export obligations, the ministry said.
The Russian Association of Grain Exporters and Producers said that Russia will fully fulfill its grain export commitments to foreign partners despite the situation in the Sea of Azov.
Russia has begun harvesting new crops in its southern regions, but new grains are just beginning to arrive at ports.
“The main aim of the work is to minimize the impact of temporary logistical difficulties on the sale of the new harvest by farmers,” local officials in the leading grain-producing region of Rostov said.
(Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Barbara Lewis, Louise Heavens and Jason Neely)
