Vladimir Putin has interrupted a vital transport route used by Ukraine as his forces fired complete invasion of the country by land, sea and air.
Maritime trackers show that Russian tankers appear to be blocking the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea. The ships are currently at anchor, and a large number of foreign ships cannot pass.
of Ukraine the military has already suspended operations in its ports. Russia previously closed the Sea of Azov to merchant ships until further notice, but left Russian ports in the Black Sea open.
Putin authorized a “special military operation” against Ukraine in the early hours of the morning, and by noon the skies over Kiev were crowded with Russian attack helicopters that had taken control of Gostomel Air Base.
Russia and Ukraine are both major exporters of wheat and grain, and industry experts predict that the war will cause food prices to rise worldwide.
Maritime trackers show that Russian tankers appear to be blocking the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea. The ships are currently at anchor, and a large number of foreign ships cannot pass
The Ukrainian military has suspended operations in its ports. Earlier, Russia closed the Sea of Azov to merchant ships until further notice. Pictured is a Russian ship heading to the Sea of Azov earlier this week
Susanne Streetter, senior investment and market analyst at Hargreaves Lansdowne, told MailOnline: “Russia and Ukraine account for 29% of wheat exports, 19% of corn exports and 80% of sunflower oil exports, with Turkey and Egypt accounting for the most. the largest importers from the region.
“Although the United Kingdom is not one of the main markets for these exports, the prices of our food are still likely to rise because fewer supplies from the region would hit world food prices, which will also affect the price of food delivered. for the United Kingdom. “
A European grain trader said: “The market is still struggling to get a clear picture of the real military situation on the ground.
“Ports in the Azov and Black Seas so far do not appear to have been damaged, according to initial reports from the shipping agency.
“The next step that will have to be addressed is any declarations of force majeure if the ships simply cannot be loaded and the contracts cannot be fulfilled.”
The Kerch Strait is used by ships carrying grain, corn and sunflower oil from Ukrainian ports, including Mariupol, which appears to be under fierce attack from Russian forces.
A spokesman for Russia’s Federal Maritime Transport Agency today confirmed that it had stopped shipping in the Strait of Azov, saying it was “in connection with anti-terrorist activities”.
This came when the Kremlin said two Russian cargo ships had been hit by missiles – a claim that cannot be confirmed.
The Kerch Strait is used by ships carrying grain, corn and sunflower oil from Ukrainian ports, including Mariupol (pictured yesterday before the Russian invasion)
Defense Preparation: Ukrainian Tanks Seen to Rotate in Mariupol, Eastern Ukraine, After Putin Declares War
Ukrainian soldiers see themselves on top of a tank heading for Mariupol, near the occupied Donbass region
Russia, the world’s largest exporter of wheat, mainly supplies its grain from Black Sea ports.
The Sea of Azov is home to smaller shallow water ports.
Maripol, the most important Ukrainian port in the Sea of Azov, mainly handles relatively small ships with a deadweight of between 3,000 and 10,000 tons.
The ports of the Sea of Azov export mainly wheat, barley and corn to Mediterranean importers such as Turkey, Italy, Cyprus, Egypt and Lebanon.
“These countries will be forced to look for alternative supplies if the ships are blocked and unable to leave in the near future,” said another European trader.
The attack has reached Ukraine on all fronts, with bombs and missiles hitting targets across the country, ground forces targeting Belarus, Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk, and paratroopers throwing over Kharkiv
Chicago wheat prices rose to a 9-1 / 2-year high on Thursday as the conflict threatened to disrupt supply flows from the region as European wheat futures climbed to record highs.
Russia and Ukraine account for 29% of world wheat exports, 19% of world corn supplies and 80% of world sunflower oil exports.
Russia produced 76 million tons of wheat last year and the US Department of Agriculture is expected to export 35 million tons in the July-June season, 17% of the world’s total.
Russia supplies wheat to all major world buyers. Turkey and Egypt are the largest importers.
Ukraine has asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles to Russian ships, Ukraine’s ambassador to Ankara said earlier today.
There is still no response to Ankara’s request.