The United Kingdom has issued a stark warning, citing intelligence sources that suggest Russia may deploy sea mines against civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including laying them on the approach to Ukrainian ports. This alarming revelation follows Ukraine’s navy announcement that 12 cargo vessels are poised to enter a newly established Black Sea shipping corridor, challenging a de facto Russian blockade of Ukrainian sea ports.
The UK’s Foreign Office, in a statement on Wednesday, disclosed that intelligence assessments indicate Russia’s contemplation of using sea mines to impede civilian ships traveling through a “humanitarian corridor” established by Ukraine for grain exports from Black Sea ports. The Foreign Office expressed concern that Russia might seek to avoid openly sinking civilian ships and instead falsely attribute any attacks to Ukraine.
Foreign Secretary James Cleverly emphasised the global scrutiny of developments in the Black Sea, cautioning against Russia’s attempts to blame Ukraine for potential attacks. The UK aims to expose Russia’s tactics by releasing its intelligence assessment, aiming to deter any such incidents from occurring.
The backdrop to these rising tensions involves Russia’s withdrawal from a deal in July, previously enabling Ukraine to safely ship food products through the Black Sea, its primary export corridor. Moscow subsequently designated ships near Ukraine’s Black Sea ports as potential supporters of Kyiv’s war efforts. Aerial attacks on Ukraine’s ports, employing drones and missile raids, have damaged 130 infrastructure facilities and destroyed nearly 300,000 tonnes of grain, impacting food supplies for over a million people, according to the UK.
In response to these challenges, Ukraine established a temporary “humanitarian corridor” on the Black Sea, allowing cargo vessels willing to take the risk to travel to its ports. Over 20 ships are reportedly preparing to exit and enter Ukraine’s sea ports, as tensions in the region escalate, drawing international attention to the unfolding situation in the Black Sea.
