The Black Sea is the most dangerous it's been since the start of Russia’s war. And it's choking global grain
The Black Sea has become increasingly dangerous for commercial shipping due to escalating drone and missile strikes between Russia and Ukraine. These hostilities are severely disrupting global grain exports and threatening the safety of merchant vessels in the region.
Why it matters
The Black Sea is a critical corridor for global food security, and the ongoing conflict threatens to destabilize international grain prices and supply chains.
The heavy machine guns aboard can’t offer much protection from Russian jet-powered drones launched from Crimea, especially when they are trying to board a vessel rocking in the churning waves.
“We are trying to find some windows in time between Russian attacks to patrol, to search for mines and some explosive materials,” Lupar said.
“It’s very dangerous. For the merchant fleet, I would say there’s almost no chance to stay safe in our waters.”
A screenshot from a video taken by Mykola Lupar, a patrol boat commander, of a sea drone captured by a Ukrainian patrol vessel. (Mykola Lupar) After nearly five years of war, maritime analysts warn that the conflict in the Black Sea is the most intense it has been since the early days of Russia’s full-scale invasion, which began on Feb. 24, 2022.
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