Russian attacks halt vessel arrivals at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports: minister

Also on Wednesday, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha accused Russia of “holding global food security hostage” and that “millions of families across Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America may face rising prices and hunger if this terror continues.”

In a statement on X, Sybiha said Ukraine has requested an urgent UN Security Council meeting for Monday, going on to urge “all states, particularly those affected, to immediately demand Russia stop its attacks on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.”

“Our armed forces are striking and will continue to strike at those ships that are involved in transporting ammunition, weapons, and so on for the purposes of the Kiev regime,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters during a press briefing earlier in the day.

Shipowners have not jointly commented on the minister’s remarks, though Danish shipping and logistics company Maersk announced earlier on Wednesday that it is temporarily suspending services via the Chornomorsk Fishing Port “until further notice.”

Noting that all import cargo originally intended for discharge at the Ukrainian port will be redirected to Romania’s Port of Constanta, the company said it has taken this step “due to the current situation affecting our operating area.”