Ships Sailing to Ukrainian Seaports to Be Considered Hostile, Moscow Warns

Russia will consider all maritime vessels en route to Black Sea ports in Ukraine as of July 20 as potentially carrying military cargoes, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.

The announcement comes two days after Moscow withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed Ukraine to export grain—despite ongoing hostilities—through the Black Sea.

“Given that the Black Sea initiative has come to an end … all ships going across the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be considered potential carriers of military-purpose cargoes,” the ministry declared on July 19.

Countries whose flags are affixed to such vessels will be viewed as “parties to the conflict on the side of Ukraine.”

Brokered a year ago by the U.N. and Turkey, the initiative expired on July 17. Russia declined to renew it, however, saying key parts of the deal—meant to ensure its own agricultural exports—were never implemented.