Ukraine threatens to target Russian vessels, reminds Moscow of sinking of its Moskva flagship
- The tit-for-tat warning comes as Russia attacks grain facilities and says that ships heading for Ukrainian ports could be seen as carriers of military cargo
- Kyiv’s response highlights the escalating danger to Black Sea trade after the collapse of a crucial grain export deal
Ukraine said any ships heading to Russian ports may be military targets, a tit-for-tat response to a threat from Moscow that escalates the war’s risk to global food markets.
Since Moscow halted the Black Sea agreement that allowed Ukraine to export part of its grain harvests, Russia has attacked Ukrainian grain storage facilities and warned that all vessels heading to Ukrainian ports would be considered potential carriers of military supplies.
The escalating threat to vital Black Sea trade steps up the risk of turmoil on global markets for everything from oil and food staples to fertilisers. Russia’s attack on its neighbour has already severely disrupted exports from Ukraine, a major producer of grains and vegetable oils.
Ukraine has previously attacked Russian ships in the Black Sea, sinking the flagship Moskva cruiser with a Neptune anti-ship missile soon after Russia’s invasion.
It also sank a landing ship and damaged another in the port of Berdyansk in March of 2022, and Ukrainian rockets have reached Russia’s main supply line to Crimea, the Kerch Strait bridge.