Russia suspends commercial navigation through Kerch Strait and Azov Canal after Ukrainian drone attacks
Russia halted commercial shipping in the Kerch Strait and Don-Azov Canal following a series of Ukrainian drone strikes on vessels, prompting a rise in wheat futures.
Russia’s Border Guard Service announced a temporary suspension of commercial traffic through the Kerch Strait, which links the Black Sea and the Azov Sea, and the Don-Azov Canal. The move follows a coordinated Ukrainian drone campaign that struck several Russian vessels, including oil tankers, in the region. No timeline for resumption of transit was provided.
The suspension affects a key export route for Russian grain, with the Azov Sea handling up to a quarter of the country’s wheat shipments from the Rostov and Krasnodar regions. Wheat futures on the Euronext exchange rose nearly 4% after the news, reaching a six-week high.
"Drones attacked four vessels in the Gulf of Taganrog overnight, including a tanker carrying methanol," said Yury Slyusar, governor of the Rostov region. He added that the ships suffered only minor damage and there was no risk of chemical leaks.
Russian authorities also reported that air-defence units intercepted more than 15 unmanned aerial vehicles targeting Taganrog and nearby districts. Ukrainian officials said the operation hit 18 Russian vessels on Friday, among them 13 oil tankers linked to the sanctioned “shadow fleet,” three cargo ships, a ferry and an auxiliary vessel. Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, said 13 of the vessels were struck near occupied Crimea.
The drone attacks were part of a broader effort that also targeted Russian mainland fuel infrastructure, including the Ilsky oil refinery, oil terminals in the Rostov region and the NOVATEK Ust-Luga complex, as well as five electrical substations in occupied Crimea.