Two Ukrainian ports, those of Odessa and Mikolaiv, were targeted yesterday by Russian reprisals for attacking the Kerch bridge, which links Russia with the Crimean peninsula. Among other damages, a 70,000-ton fuel tank destined for the army was hit. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the shipyard where the naval drones with which the bridge was attacked were built was destroyed. Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov acknowledged that it was indeed a retaliatory bombing.
Ukrainian ports remain at the center of the war the day after Russia’s suspension of the agreement for the safe export of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. It will no longer be so safe, Moscow has said. “Going ahead with the grain deal without the participation of the Russian Federation should take into account the risks associated with the fact that the route passes close to the zone of hostilities,” Peskov said, apparently responding to the stated intention of the president. Ukrainian Volodimir Zelensky to continue grain exports from the three main Black Sea ports.
However, the US insurance manager Marsh has suspended its program for Ukraine, while the US rules out that bulk carriers can navigate under escort. And without insurance there is no program. The insurance managed by Marsh offered cover of up to $50 million per cargo, provided by primarily by London insurers was run by Ascot, the underwriter of Lloyd’s of London, along with other underwriters.
“Ukraine’s main task now is to get Turkey’s support,” said Dmitri Skornyakov, chief executive of HarvEast Holding, suggesting that Turkish military escorts could be used for ships entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. That would be a very risky move for Türkiye, and unlikely. President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Monday that he hoped to settle the matter by speaking with Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, the Russian Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, discussed yesterday with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan, ways to export Russian grain through routes “that were not susceptible to sabotage from Kyiv and the West,” according to the ministry. Russian.
Ukraine can still send grain by land – to Poland – and by waterway – to Romania – but those routes are more expensive and take farmers’ income. Shipments through the European Union are also causing tensions with its neighbors. In Poland, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary or Slovakia, the Ukrainian cereal collides with the opposition of local farmers, who see how it is given priority. The Polish government says it is willing to help Kyiv, but last April it had to close its border to Ukrainian grain because of protests by farmers.
EU officials said yesterday they were seeking greater use of what they call solidarity routes, or road and rail links through Ukraine’s neighbours. According to the Commission, about 60% of Ukraine’s grain exports now pass through the EU solidarity routes.
