Russia to reroute exports from Sea of Azov after Ukrainian attacks on ships
Ukraine said drones hit 11 Russian vessels in the Azov Sea overnight, including tankers and cargo ships. Russia's Agriculture Ministry said it is preparing alternative grain shipment routes.
Russia's Ministry of Agriculture said on Tuesday that the country is preparing to use "alternative shipping routes" and may redirect cargo "to other modes of transport" after Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the Sea of Azov. The ministry added that "the situation in the Azov Sea will not affect the domestic market's food supply or our country's export capabilities."
Ukrainian military commander Robert Brovdi said on Telegram on Tuesday that drone attacks hit 11 Russian vessels in the Azov Sea overnight. The targets included five tankers, five dry cargo vessels and a tugboat, bringing the total number of vessels struck in the past nine days to 116, he said.
Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of carrying out "acts of terrorism," saying that "the Ukrainian regime is doing goes beyond even piracy... the goal is simply to cause damage and intimidate. It is terrorism, pure and simple."
The attacks come as Ukraine steps up long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure, triggering a fuel crisis in Russia. Russia's Defence Ministry said its air defences intercepted 288 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight. Falling debris from a drone attack injured one person and damaged houses in several villages.
One attack sparked a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery in Russia's Krasnodar region. Ukraine also struck another oil refinery in the republic of Bashkortostan, which had been hit twice in September 2025. Governor Radiy Khabirov said on Telegram that the attack hit an industrial area in the city of Salavat.
Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries have contributed to a fuel crisis, leading Moscow to ban some fuel exports amid a global surge in energy prices.
Russia's Defence Ministry also said it hit targets in Kyiv, port infrastructure in Ukraine's Odesa region, and fuel storage facilities for Ukrainian forces in the port of Yuzhny. Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said Russian forces struck a civilian vessel near Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, reporting no casualties.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian military officials said their forces shot down seven missiles and 108 drones across the country.
