MOSCOW / Anadolu Agency

The vital Ukrainian Black Sea ports, notably Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny, have experienced a complete halt of commercial vessel traffic following the escalation of Russian attacks in the region.

These developments occur amid the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war since February 2022, which has severely impacted Black Sea shipping routes.

According to data from the MarineTraffic platform, no commercial vessels were recorded at the three Ukrainian ports as of July 23.

Taras Vysotskyi, Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, reported that transport companies temporarily suspended operations with those ports as of July 22 for security reasons.

Danish company Maersk also announced the suspension of its service connecting to Ukraine via Chornomorsk port due to the current conditions.

The company clarified that import shipments scheduled for unloading in Chornomorsk will be diverted to the port of Constanța in Romania, while existing export bookings can be canceled free of charge or have the loading port changed to Constanța.

In a statement, the Russian Defense Ministry indicated that recent attacks on Odesa and Chornomorsk targeted port infrastructure, warehouses, and vessels, on the pretext that they were being used to transport military equipment and fuel to the Ukrainian army.

Ukraine says the attacks are aimed at commercial maritime traffic and agricultural exports, while Russia insists it is striking facilities used for military purposes.

The ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny are among Ukraine's main export hubs, especially for grain and agricultural products to global markets.

For its part, Ukraine has recently intensified its attacks on vessels and port infrastructure that it says Russia uses for its logistical activities in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

These ports are a key artery for Ukrainian grain exports, which constitute an important part of global food security. The UN- and Turkey-brokered grain deal had previously collapsed, further complicating the situation. The latest escalation comes as Kyiv seeks to boost its exports through alternative routes, but Russian attacks are hampering these efforts. Disruptions to Black Sea navigation are expected to continue as long as the conflict persists.