Grain deal saga: Russia to treat Ukraine-bound ships as carriers of military cargo

The defence ministry of Russia says it will consider all ships travelling to Ukrainian ports to be potential carriers of military cargo.

According to a statement on the Telegram messaging app quoted by international media on Wednesday, the ministry also said the ships’ flag countries will be deemed parties to the conflict on the Ukrainian side.

The move follows Russia’s decision to pull out of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain export deal which had guaranteed the safety of Ukrainian exports for the past year.

“In connection with the termination of the Black Sea Initiative and the end of the maritime humanitarian corridor, from 00.00 Moscow time on July 20, 2023 (2100 GMT on Wednesday) all ships proceeding to Ukrainian ports in Black Sea waters will be considered as potential carriers of military cargo,” the ministry said.

Russia also declared the southeastern and northwestern parts of the Black Sea’s international waters to be temporarily unsafe for navigation, the ministry added.

Moscow had, on July 17, said it would no longer be part of a deal that allowed the safe export of Ukraine’s grain through the Black Sea.

The deal, known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative, was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.

Established in July 2022, the initiative aimed at abating a global food crisis after Russia invaded Ukraine — a neighbouring country and fellow key grain exporter.

The deal allowed for commercial food and fertilizer (including ammonia) exports from three key Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea — Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny/Pivdennyi.