In response to the Russian blockade, #Ukraine announced a "humanitarian corridor" hugging the sea's western coastline near #Romania and #Bulgaria. A #HongKong-flagged container ship stuck in #Odesa port since the invasion travelled the route last week without being fired upon. #UkraineWar

Ukraine may use new #BlackSea route for #GrainShipments - producers
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-may-use-new-black-sea-route-grain-shipments-producers-2023-08-21/

Despite the threats, last week #Ukraine announced a "humanitarian corridor" in the #BlackSea to release #CargoShips that have been trapped in its ports, pledging full transparency to make clear they were serving no military purpose. #Russia #UkraineWar

Cargo ship leaves Ukrainian port despite Russian threat of attack
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/cargo-ship-leaves-ukrainian-port-despite-russian-threat-attack-2023-08-16/

"#Russia invaded #Ukraine in February 2022, and #mines have since then been laid in the #BlackSea by the combatants. Romanian, Bulgarian and Turkish military diving teams have been defusing those that have drifted into their waters.

The sea is crucial for shipments of #grain, #oil and #OilProducts and is shared by #Bulgaria, #Romania, #Georgia and #Turkey, as well as Ukraine and #Russia." #UkraineWar

Romania deploys ship, chopper to find stray Black Sea mines
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/romania-deploys-ship-chopper-find-stray-black-sea-mines-2023-08-14/

#Russia’s blockade of #Ukraine’s grain exports through the #BlackSea have fuelled soaring food prices, an important concern for many of Beijing’s allies.

#China doesn’t want to “appear so supportive of #Putin that it will allow the #GlobalSouth to go hungry” said Steve Tsang, director of the Soas China Institute. #UkraineWar

China has its own reasons for being at Ukraine #PeaceTalks in #SaudiArabia
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/aug/11/china-ukraine-peace-talks-saudi-arabia-russia

#BlackSea is becoming a decisive frontline after #Moscow pulled out of the UN grain deal and bombarded #Ukraine’s ports. #UkraineWar

Drone attack on tanker shows #Kyiv’s intent to hit Russian energy shipments https://www.politico.eu/article/drone-attack-russia-tanker-kyiv-hit-energy-shipment-naval-base-crimea-black-sea-ukraine-war/

The Ukrainian sea drone strike on the Russian navy landing ship #OlenegorskyGornyak in the port of #Novorossiysk is a “significant blow” to Moscow’s #BlackSeaFleet, the UK Ministry of Defence has said. #UkraineWar #Ukraine #Russia #BlackSea
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/aug/05/russia-ukraine-war-live-russian-tanker-hit-by-drones-saudi-arabia-talks-will-be-difficult-says-kyiv-envoy?page=with:block-64cde7d68f08e5e4127cf37b#block-64cde7d68f08e5e4127cf37b

"In 2023, #Ukraine supplied 80% of the wheat procured to support humanitarian operations in the most #FoodInsecure countries such as #Afghanistan, #Djibouti, #Ethiopia, #Kenya, #Somalia, #Sudan and #Yemen." #UkraineWar #BSGI #GrainCorridor #BlackSea

#Putin is using food as a weapon – but his cynical attempts to drum up forced allies will fail | Joseph Borrell
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/aug/03/russia-food-vladimir-putin-black-sea-grain-initiative-eu-aid

Izmail port was hit again.

"In late July, Russian drones targeted the #Izmail, destroying a grain warehouses. And on Sunday, Ukrainian media reported several foreign cargo ships had arrived at the port from the #BlackSea for the first time since the expiration of the grain deal." #UkraineWar #Russia

Russian drones hit port, grain storage in #Ukraine’s #Odesa region – official
https://www.rappler.com/world/europe/russia-ukraine-crisis-updates-august-2-2023/

"A flock of #NATO aircraft carefully monitored the ships as they sailed toward #Izmail, a small Ukrainian port just across from #Romania on the #DanubeRiver. The vessels presumably will load grain in Izmail then sail back into the #BlackSea and onward to foreign ports." #UkraineWar

NATO Planes Watched As Three Civilian Ships Ran #Russia’s #NavalBlockade Of #Ukraine
https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2023/07/31/nato-planes-watched-as-three-civilian-ships-ran-russias-naval-blockade-of-ukraine/?sh=31453e2c1b72

Some bird-eye perspectives on the war and the grain deal.

"The Western propaganda caricatures Russia as creating food scarcity globally. Whereas, the fact of the matter is that the West didn’t keep its part of the bargain reciprocally to allow the export of Russian wheat and fertiliser, as has been acknowledged by the UN and Turkey."

https://www.indianpunchline.com/storm-clouds-gathering-in-the-black-sea/
#GrainDeal #BlackSea #Peace #War

Both #Russia and #Ukraine have now declared that they will treat vessels in the #BlackSea as carrying military cargo, which would make them potential strike targets. #UkraineWar
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/jul/20/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-deaths-reported-mykolaiv-strikes-missiles-odesa-targeted?page=with:block-64b936e68f087edb1f3ee479#block-64b936e68f087edb1f3ee479

"The so-called #SolidarityLanes" are designed to provide alternative land routes for the exportation of Ukrainian #grain after #Moscow blockaded docks in the #BlackSea region.

The measures include new border posts, flexible customs checks, logistics support, prioritization of Ukrainian agricultural exports and new storage facilities on the #EU’s side of the border." #UkraineWar

EU will expand solidarity lanes after #Russia's withdrawal of Ukraine #GrainDeal
https://edition.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-07-18-23/h_691ed27f343d2528ab857b45015dd596

Russia really doesn't want the Black Sea grain exports to continue.

"#Russia aimed several waves of #ShahedDrones and six #Kalibr cruise missiles at the #BlackSea port city of #Odesa overnight, #Ukraine’s Operational Command South has said, with all shot down by air defences." #UkraineWar

https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/jul/18/russia-ukraine-war-live-updates-airstrikes-crimea-kerch-bridge-explosions-reopens-latest-news?page=with:block-64b624588f0820b061204ed7#block-64b624588f0820b061204ed7

"In a statement, the #UN secretary general, #AntónioGuterres expressed his 'deeply regret' at the #RussianFederation’s decision to withdraw from the #BlackSea grain deal, saying hundreds of millions of people facing a global cost-of-living crisis 'will pay the price' . " #UkraineWar #Russia

Hundreds of millions 'will pay the price' of Russia's withdrawal from Black Sea grain deal, UN says
https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2023/jul/17/russia-ukraine-war-live-crimean-bridge-emergency-traffic-stops-explosion?page=with:block-64b559038f08742a26fe8fa6#block-64b559038f08742a26fe8fa6

"#Maxar said that their images covered more than 2,500 square km between #NovaKakhovka and the #DniprovskaGulf southwest of #Kherson city on the #BlackSea, giving some idea of the scale of the crisis."

#KakhovkaDam flooding before and after: satellite images reveal extent of disaster in #Ukraine | #UkraineWar| The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/07/kakhovka-dam-flooding-ukraine-before-and-after-satellite-images-reservoir-kherson-oblast

RT @Antiwarcom
US Releases Video of Drone Encounter With Russian Fighters
The video appears to show a Russian fighter dumping fuel on the MQ-9 drone over the Black Sea
by Dave DeCamp
@DecampDave #Russia #drone #BlackSea #Ukraine
https://news.antiwar.com/2023/03/16/us-releases-video-of-drone-encounter-with-russian-fighters/

RT @Antiwarcom
Russia Trying to Recover Debris of Downed US MQ-9 Reaper Drone
The drone crashed in the Black Sea on Tuesday after an encounter with Russian fighter jets
by Dave DeCamp
@DecampDave #Russia #BlackSea #drone #Ukraine
https://news.antiwar.com/2023/03/15/russia-trying-to-recover-debris-of-downed-us-mq-9-reaper-drone/

Dangerous escalation on Russia's part.
---
"The Reaper drone and two SU-27 Flanker jets were operating over international waters over the #Black
Sea when one of the Russian jets intentionally flew in front of and dumped fuel in front of the unmanned drone, according to the official. One of the jets then damaged the propeller of the Reaper"

Russian fighter jet forces down US #drone over #BlackSea after intercept | #UkraineWar #Russia
https://edition.cnn.com/2023/03/14/politics/russian-jet-us-drone-black-sea/index.html

The world heritage committee’s 21 member states approved the designation with six votes in favour, one against and 14 abstentions.

Russia repeatedly tried to delay the vote and denounced the eventual decision, saying the only threat to Odesa came from the “nationalist regime in Ukraine”.

#Ukraine’s #Odesa, the ‘pearl of the #BlackSea’, added to #Unesco #WorldHeritageList | #UkraineWar | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jan/26/ukraines-odesa-the-pearl-of-the-black-sea-added-to-unesco-world-heritage-list