Russia 'preparing fleet for Black Sea blockade' with risk of fresh violence

26 July 2023 , 15:25

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A man works on the rubble of an apartment building destroyed in Russian missile attacks in Odesa, Ukraine (Image: AP)

Russia could be preparing to blockade Ukraine by using its Black Sea fleet to cut off vital trade routes, the UK has warned.

In its latest intelligence update, the Ministry of Defence said that Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has "altered its posture" after pulling out of a wartime export deal allowing safe shipment of grain from Ukraine.

It warned "there is now the potential for the intensity and scope of violence in the area to increase".

Western officials believe the Kremlin's decision to withdraw from the deal and attack Ukraine's grain stores is "an own goal" for Vladimir Putin, who will face pressure from African leaders over food shortages.

Ukraine was regarded as the "breadbasket of Europe" and was one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, corn and sunflower oil before war broke out.

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Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Russia must stop holding global food supplies hostage (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Officials say Russia has destroyed more than 60,000 tons of grain in the past week in attacks on depots, with drones targeting ports near Romania, which is a UK ally and member of Nato.

They say the level of aggression in the Black Sea has increased and the strike against the Ukrainian port of Reni, across the Danube from Romania was "risky" from the Kremlin.

"We've not seen that level of risk being demonstrated previously," the official said.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has warned that Russia could escalate its campaign to target Ukraine's food exports by target merchant ships.

He tweeted yesterday: "Russia should stop holding global food supplies hostage and return to the deal."

It comes as experts said Putin is "feeling the pressure" from Ukraine's counter-offensive, despite slow progress by Kyiv's forces.

"The Russians are stretched and they are having problems... they have got issues with logistics, issues with supply of personnel, weapons, etc. And they're feeling the pressure," an official said.

"They're on the front line for what the Ukrainians have been putting at them. This is not over yet."

They added: "I wouldn't want to use the word hope, but we're certainly not discounting that the Ukrainians can achieve a significant breakthrough."

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