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Russia said Tuesday it was developing alternative shipping routes and could restrict traffic in the Azov Sea after Ukraine claimed it struck 116 vessels in the area over nine days.
The Azov Sea lies between Russia, Russian-occupied southern Ukraine, and Crimea, which Moscow annexed.
It is a major export route for agricultural products, including grain from occupied Ukrainian territory that Kyiv describes as stolen, and for supplies sent to Crimea.
The attacks come as Ukraine has sharply increased drone strikes deep inside Russia, contributing to fuel shortages across the country.
“Alternative shipping routes are currently being worked out in collaboration with relevant agencies and the business community,” Russia’s Agriculture Ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said exports would continue despite the attacks.
“The situation in the Azov Sea will not affect the domestic market’s food supply or our country’s export capabilities,” it said.
Russia’s Transport Ministry said it was “taking all necessary measures to ensure the smooth operation of freight logistics” as attacks intensified.
The ministry added that, “if necessary,” some cargo would be redirected to other forms of transport.
The commander of Ukraine’s drone forces said Tuesday that Ukrainian forces had struck “116 vessels over the past nine days” in the Azov Sea.
The vessels included several tankers and cargo ships, he said.
According to the commander, the strikes were intended to damage Russia’s “shadow fleet” and restrict petrol supplies to Crimea, which remains under Moscow’s control.
The attacks have raised the possibility of reduced maritime traffic in a sea used for both agricultural exports and supply routes.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Moscow was working to stop the attacks.
Asked about the Azov Sea strikes during a news conference in Moscow with his Chadian counterpart, Lavrov said President Vladimir Putin was addressing the issue.
“The president is working for this to stop,” Lavrov said.
He also said Russia would continue supplying food to African countries despite the disruption.
“In any case, we will continue to fulfill all our obligations to supply food to our African friends, both under commercial contracts and as part of humanitarian aid,” he said.
Russia and Ukraine are among the world’s largest producers of grain and wheat and play major roles in global food supplies.
Lavrov accused European countries of attempting to “steer the United States off course” from efforts to settle the war in Ukraine.
U.S. President Donald Trump recently expressed support for Ukrainian strikes inside Russia.
“It’s an escalation, but it’s also an escalation that can help lead to an end,” Trump said last week.
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