Ukraine has formally closed its four ports on the Black and Azov seas, which Russian forces have captured, the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture said on Monday.
The Sea of Azov ports of Mariupol, Berdiansk and Skadovsk and the Black Sea port of Kherson were closed “until the restoration of control”, the ministry said in a statement.
“The adoption of this measure is due to the impossibility of serving ships and passengers, carrying out cargo, transport and other related economic activities, ensuring an adequate level of navigation safety”, he says.
All Ukrainian seaports suspended their activities as a result of the Russian invasion in late February. Invading forces captured some ports and blocked others.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that Ukraine could lose tens of millions of tonnes of grain due to Russian control of Black Sea shipping, triggering a food crisis that will affect Europe, Asia and Africa.
“Russia doesn’t allow ships in or out, it’s controlling the Black Sea,” Zelensky told Australian news program 60 Minutes.
“Russia wants to completely block our country’s economy,” said the Ukrainian.
Ukraine, a major agricultural producer, used to export most of its products by sea, but was forced to start shipping its production by train across the western border or through small ports on the Danube River.
Ukraine’s agriculture ministry said last week that grain exports reached 45.709 million tonnes in the 2021/22 July-June season.
The folder said the volume includes 763,000 tonnes exported in April, but did not provide comparative figures. Senior agriculture officials said this month that Ukraine exported up to 300,000 tonnes of grain in March.
Russia calls its intervention in Ukraine a “special operation” to disarm Ukraine and rid it of neo-Nazi and fascist forces and battalions. Ukraine and the West say the allegation of fighting fascists is unfounded and that the war is an act of unprovoked aggression.
Source: CNN Brasil
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