Ukraine strikes shut Russia's Azov Sea shipping routes
Intensified Ukrainian drone attacks have forced Russia to suspend vessel traffic through the Azov Sea, disrupting grain and fuel exports and prompting warnings of economic losses.
Ukrainian forces have hit at least 116 Russian vessels in the Sea of Azov over nine days, according to the commander of Ukraine’s drone units, prompting Moscow to halt traffic through the Don-Azov Channel and the Kerch Strait. Satellite imagery shows queues of ships awaiting passage on both sides of the waterway.
The closures affect Russia’s grain and oil shipments, including wheat and sunflower oil that normally pass through the Azov Sea. Analysts note that roughly a quarter of Russia’s wheat exports travel via this route, and rerouting through other Black Sea ports may be insufficient during peak export seasons. Wheat futures have risen as traders react to the disruption.
Ukraine says its strikes target military logistics and the “shadow fleet” of sanctioned fuel tankers, while Russian officials label the campaign as terrorism. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov described the attacks as “beyond even piracy,” accusing Kyiv of seeking to cause damage and intimidation.
The actions are part of a broader Ukrainian effort to isolate the occupied Crimean peninsula, which Russia annexed in 2014 and has used as a logistical hub for its southern operations. The Sea of Azov, a shallow inlet linked to the Black Sea, has long been a critical conduit for Russian exports of oil, grain, steel and other commodities.