2023-07-20 15:52:45
In response to threats from Moscow, Ukraine plans to crack down on ships calling at Russian-controlled Black Sea ports. The Ministry of Defense pointed out in Kiev on Thursday that such ships could be regarded as transporting “cargo for military purposes”. The new regulation applies from midnight local time (11:00 p.m. CEST). Earlier, Russia threatened to attack ships calling at Ukrainian ports.
In addition, the previous security guarantees were withdrawn by Moscow. The passage through the Kerch Strait to the Azov Sea on the Russian-occupied Black Sea peninsula of Crimea has been banned since 5:00 a.m. local time (4:00 a.m. CEST), the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense said. Corresponding navigation notifications had already been published.
The ministry also recalled the Russian cruiser Moskva, which was sunk by missiles more than a year ago. The Ukrainian Navy has already repeatedly used sea drones against ships of the Russian Black Sea Fleet and presumably also against the bridge to the Crimean Peninsula. Homemade and Western-made missiles can reach targets about 300 kilometers away. An in-house production should even have a range of 500 kilometers.
Kiev is responding to a Russian threat that after the end of the grain deal, Russia will consider all ships calling at Ukrainian ports as legitimate targets. Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia for almost 17 months.
The UN Security Council meets on Friday to discuss Russia’s withdrawal from the grain deal. The British representation at the United Nations said it would be about the consequences of the step for the humanitarian situation.
According to the authorities, there will be little or no harvest in the southern Ukrainian region of Cherson, which is partly occupied by Russia. The reason is water shortages in the North Crimean and Kakhovka canals, informed the governor appointed by Russia, Vladimir Saldo. The reason for this is the rupture of the Kakhovka Dam in early June, which had dammed the Dnipro River. The rupture led to massive flooding in the war zone in southern Ukraine. At the same time, the reservoir ran empty and can no longer be used for irrigation. Ukraine and Russia blame each other for the breach of the dam.
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