Ships will not be docking at Ukrainian ports for now because of concerns over Russian attacks, it was reported on Thursday.
“We as a state have not imposed any restrictions; this is a decision taken by the shipowners,” said Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotsky, according to a report by the state news agency Ukrinform.
Just the day before, “four to five ships” had docked at Ukrainian ports, Vysotsky said.
He did not specify whether this applies only to seaports or whether shipping traffic to the Danube ports has also been suspended.
In early July, Ukrainian drone units began attacking ships heading for Russian-controlled ports in the Black Sea and, in particular, in the neighbouring Sea of Azov. The primary aim was to disrupt the export of Russian oil and the supply of the Crimean Peninsula – which has been annexed by Russia – by sea. Ukrainian sources say nearly 200 tankers and cargo ships were damaged in the process.
In response, the Russian military intensified its attacks on Ukrainian port facilities and the cargo ships calling at them.
According to Moscow, only ships carrying goods intended for the military were targeted. Kiev said grain shipments were also affected. The claims made by the warring parties cannot be verified by independent sources.
According to figures from the Ukrainian Seaport Authority, 42.4 million tons of freight were handled via seaports in the first half of 2026. Of this, 23.6 million tons were agricultural products. This figure is 20% higher than the previous year.
Source: DPA
