Ukraine accuses Russia of turning Black Sea into 'second Strait of Hormuz'
Ukraine's acting foreign minister calls for global response to Russia's attacks on civilian shipping, citing massive damage to port infrastructure and grain corridor disruption.
Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, has urged the international community to respond decisively to Russia's campaign of terror against Ukraine's Black Sea maritime corridor. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Sybiha emphasized that Russia's attacks on civilian shipping are neither retaliation nor a response to Ukrainian strikes elsewhere, stressing that Moscow's campaign began in 2022, not in July 2026.
Sybiha reported that since 2022, Russian strikes have damaged or destroyed 1,054 port infrastructure facilities, hit 232 civilian vessels, and killed or injured 307 civilians. He stated that these acts of terror have no 'pretexts,' 'causes,' or 'justifications.' Since the launch of the grain corridor in September 2023, 208.9 million tonnes of cargo—including 123.8 million tonnes of grain—have been transported to families in over 55 countries. By weaponizing hunger, Sybiha argued, Russia is attacking not only Ukraine but millions of people worldwide, and such actions cannot be justified.
Sybiha called for a united and decisive response from the international community, demanding that Moscow cease its attacks on freedom of navigation and stop trying to turn the Black Sea into another Strait of Hormuz. As of July 23, the entry of ships into Ukraine's Black Sea ports had been suspended due to the threat of Russian attacks. Maersk has also suspended its services to these ports amid intensified Russian airstrikes on port infrastructure.
