The ongoing war in Ukraine has made the Black Sea a pivotal battleground, as it is crucial for Ukraine to export its grain. Russia’s Ministry of Defence has announced that its naval forces have destroyed three unmanned Ukrainian boats in the northern part of the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula. This attack is part of a series of attacks in the contested waterway, which is essential for Russia’s offensive against Kyiv.
According to the ministry, the area where the unmanned boats were detected was targeted with anti-sabotage missiles and bombs. They also reported that an anti-mining and anti-sabotage operation is underway off the port of Sevastopol, where Russia’s Black Sea Fleet is based. Moscow has been using this fleet, consisting of about 30 warships, to enforce a blockade on Ukraine’s coastline and launch missile strikes on Ukrainian cities.
It is currently unclear if there were any casualties from this recent attack, and Kyiv has not yet commented on the matter. However, Ukraine has recently intensified its attacks on Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. These attacks have helped Ukraine regain some control over the Black Sea and have pushed Russian warships further east. In September, Ukraine claimed to have struck two naval vessels and damaged the port infrastructure in Sevastopol, causing significant damage in the region.
Ukraine’s engagement in the Black Sea has allowed it to establish a new “humanitarian corridor” to facilitate its exports after Russia abandoned a shipping guarantee deal in July. This corridor, which passes through the waters of NATO members Bulgaria and Romania as a deterrent to Russia, has enabled Ukraine to export around 700,000 tonnes of grain. This has been crucial in preserving a key component of Ukraine’s economy.
“We are witnessing an increase in the number of ships leaving our ports. We hope this trend will continue,” stated senior Ukrainian agricultural official Mykola Solsky on Monday.