Russia's Transport Ministry announced that it has tightened protection for commercial ships and developed alternative cargo routes following an increase in ship attacks in the Black Sea and Azov Sea basin. The ministry will coordinate efforts to reroute freight transport and protect ships by establishing a joint task force with the Defense Ministry.
The ministry's statement said it was responding to the "tense situation caused by hostile drone attacks on maritime vessels," and that some port operators are ready to handle additional cargo volumes and increase shipment rates at their terminals.
Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, and Ukraine, a major agricultural exporter, have been attacking each other's agricultural export facilities and commercial ships in the Black Sea region in recent weeks. These attacks have raised wheat prices on global markets.
Russia's leading union of grain exporters warned on Friday that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships and ports could soon bring grain exports via the Black Sea to a halt, further raise prices, and cause hunger in Africa and the Middle East.
Ukraine's largest agricultural union has also warned in recent weeks that Russian attacks on ships near the Odesa port are restricting Ukraine's exports during a critical harvest period and could affect global food supply.