Ships Avoid Ukraine’s Black Sea Ports As Russian Attacks Escalate

Ukraine is one of the world’s biggest exporters of corn, colza, sunflower seeds and vegetable oil and 90% of its commodity exports also pass through the Black Sea ports in and around Odesa. Russia and Ukraine account for 30% of global wheat supplies.

However, the attacks on ships and strikes on port infrastructure in the region have led to major shipping companies like Maersk and Hapag Lloyd to halt operations at Black Sea ports such as Chornomorsk, one of Ukraine’s deepwater terminals.

An official from Hapag Lloyd said that recent missile and drone attacks in Odesa have increased the operational and security risks.

However, the Ukrainian market is being served through road and rail routes across Poland and Romania.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriï Sybiga said no ship took the Ukraine’s Black Sea maritime corridor, “right at peak harvest”.

Sybiga also said that the situation could lead to food insecurity, adding that Kyiv had called for a U.N Security Council meeting on July 27, 2026.

For Ukraine, agricultural shipments to Asia, Africa and the Middle East are important sources for hard currency during its war with Russia, which has continued since 2022.

According to Ukrainian officials, Russia has attacked Odesa time and again but recently intensified its attacks on ports, grain and sunflower oil terminals and commercial ships berthed at Black Sea Ports.

Recently, a Russian attack on a cargo ship killed 10 crew members, 4 of whom were Indian seafarers onboard the Golden Leo off Odesa, after which India summoned a top Russian envoy to New Delhi and condemned the act.

Ukraine has also increased attacks on shipping in the Sea of Azov and on the Russian shadow fleet of oil tankers.