Following the UAV attacks: Russia has blocked the Azov-Don Canal
11 July 09:15
Following a large-scale attack by Ukrainian drones on ships in the Sea of Azov, Russian security agencies banned ships from passing through the Azov-Don Sea Canal—a major waterway connecting the Don River to the Sea of Azov. Reuters reported this, citing three sources in the Russian grain export sector, according to "Komersant Ukrainian".
The Russian Border Service, which is subordinate to the FSB, sent a notice suspending the acceptance of applications for vessel passage, Reuters notes. The agency did not specify how long the restrictions would remain in effect. One of the agency’s sources also reported that vessel passage through the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, had been suspended.
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The agency did not specify the reasons for suspending the passage of ships through the straits. The Russian ministries of agriculture and transportation did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment.
Ukraine has attacked Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov more than 30 times over the past four days
A few days earlier, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) announced that they had struck at least 25 vessels in the waters of the Sea of Azov using UAVs. On July 9, Robert “Madyar” Brovdi, commander of the UAF’s Unmanned Systems Forces, posted a list on his Telegram channel—which indicates that some vessels were attacked multiple times.
Most of the vessels listed by Brovdi are oil tankers, though dry cargo ships were also targeted. The Ukrainian commander noted that the struck tankers have been identified as part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” and are subject to international sanctions in connection with Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine.
Russian authorities have not commented on reports of a sharp increase in attacks on ships in the waters of the Sea of Azov.
Grain prices on exchanges rose following reports of drone attacks in the Sea of Azov
The Rostov Region and Krasnodar Krai—Russia’s leading grain-producing regions—are located along the coast of the Sea of Azov, Reuters notes. Russia also transports grain through the Azov-Black Sea basin, which is a vital supply route for the country.
Following reports of Ukrainian drone attacks on dry-cargo ships in the waters and amid rumors of a possible suspension of shipping through the Sea of Azov, the price of wheat on the Euronext exchange rose by more than 4 percent in a single day. The figure recorded on July 10 marked the highest level in the past six weeks.
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