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Russia has introduced additional measures to protect commercial vessels and ensure safe navigation in the Sea of Azov following drone attacks on ships, the Russian Transport Ministry said.
In a written statement, the ministry described the situation in the Sea of Azov as tense and said it was taking steps to maintain uninterrupted freight transportation across the Azov-Black Sea basin.
The ministry said a special operations center had been established to coordinate transportation activities in the region.
The center will develop alternative logistics routes and redirect cargo flows to other forms of transportation, including road and rail networks, to prevent disruptions and ensure that shipments reach their destinations fully and on time.
Several stevedoring and port operating companies have said they are prepared to accept additional cargo volumes and increase the pace of shipments through their terminals, depending on their technological capacity, the ministry added.
The Transport Ministry said it was working with the Russian Defense Ministry to introduce additional measures aimed at improving maritime traffic safety and protecting ships operating in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.
The measures are also intended to prevent possible disruptions to commercial freight transportation across the Azov-Black Sea basin.
The ministry did not disclose details about the nature or scope of the additional security measures.
The special operations center will coordinate cargo transportation while working to establish alternative routes if maritime operations are interrupted.
Cargo may be transferred to road or railway networks, while port operators capable of handling additional volumes could increase activity at their terminals.
The ministry said the measures were being implemented because of drone attacks against vessels in the Sea of Azov.
Russia and Ukraine have increased attacks against ships and ports in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov in recent weeks.
In a separate statement, the Russian Defense Ministry said Russian forces had struck four Ukrainian dry cargo vessels that it said were transporting military supplies.
The ministry said Russian forces continued overnight attacks against Ukrainian transportation infrastructure being used in support of the Ukrainian armed forces.
Three dry cargo vessels carrying what Russia described as military-purpose shipments were struck in the Black Sea, according to the statement.
A fourth dry cargo vessel was targeted at the port of Mykolaiv while delivering supplies for the Ukrainian military, the ministry said.
Russia said unmanned aerial vehicles were used in the attacks.
The Defense Ministry did not provide further information about damage to the vessels, possible casualties or the specific cargo they were allegedly transporting.
The reported attacks came as the Transport Ministry introduced additional measures to protect maritime traffic, commercial vessels and cargo operations in the Azov-Black Sea basin.
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