According to the UK Government, intelligence data reveals Russia may use sea mines to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea to deter the export of Ukrainian grain.
UK’s declassified Information shows Russia may continue to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying sea mines in the approach to Ukrainian ports. The UK previously warned that the Russian military had attempted a missile strike against a cargo ship in the Black Sea.
The UK assesses Russia is seeking to target civilian shipping travelling through Ukraine’s ‘humanitarian corridor’ in order to deter the export of Ukrainian grain.
Russia almost certainly wants to avoid openly sinking civilian ships, instead falsely laying blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea, the UK warns.
The world is watching – and we see right through Russia’s cynical attempts to lay blame on Ukraine for their attacks. We and our allies stand united against Putin and his attempts to harm Ukraine and thus harm the rest of the world.
… said UK Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly
By releasing our assessment of this intelligence, the UK seeks to expose Russia’s tactics to deter any such incident from occurring. Reportedly, the UK has put in place intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to monitor Russian activity in the Black Sea.
We are committed to ensuring Ukraine can continue to export its agricultural produce through all appropriate routes including its ‘humanitarian corridor’, overland and via the Danube.
… said the U.K. Government
UK also presented the following facts, saying that since the withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia has:
- damaged 130 port infrastructure facilities in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Reni
- destroyed almost 300,000 tonnes of grain – more than the total amount Russia promised to donate to African states, and enough to feed over 1.3 million people for a year
