Ukraine warns all ships bound for Russia, occupied Ukraine will be treated as carriers of military cargo

From July 21, 2023, all ships on the Black Sea heading to Russian ports and Ukrainian ports in the Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by Russia could be considered by Ukraine as potential carriers of military equipment with all the relevant risks.

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry's press service said this in a statement posted to Telegram, according to Ukrinform.

"The Russian Federation has once again brutally violated the universal right of the whole world to free navigation and is deliberately undermining food security, condemning millions of people to starvation. By openly threatening civilian ships transporting food from Ukrainian ports, launching missile attacks and drone attacks on civilian infrastructure in peaceful cities, deliberately creating a military threat on trade routes, the Kremlin has turned the Black Sea into a danger zone, first and foremost, for Russian ships and ships heading on the Black Sea to Russian seaports and Ukrainian seaports located in the Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by Russia. The responsibility for all risks lies entirely with the Russian leadership," the statement said.

The ministry said the fate of the missile cruiser Moskva proves that Ukraine's defense forces have the necessary means to repel Russian aggression at sea. The Ukrainian Defense Ministry warned that from 00:00 on July 21, 2023, Ukraine would consider all vessels of the occupying country on the Black Sea as potential carriers of military cargo.

"The Ministry of Defense of Ukraine warns that from 00:00 on July 21, 2023, all vessels heading in the waters of the Black Sea in the direction of the seaports of the Russian Federation and Ukrainian seaports located in the territory of Ukraine temporarily occupied by Russia may be considered by Ukraine as carriers of military cargo with all the associated risks. In addition, navigation in the areas of the north-eastern part of the Black Sea and the Kerch-Yenikale Strait of Ukraine has been prohibited as dangerous, starting from 05:00 on July 20, 2023," the ministry said.

It also noted that relevant navigational information for seafarers had already been made public.