Drones Strike Russian Grain Ships in Black Sea Disrupting Exports

Russian grain ships have been targeted by drones in the Black Sea, disrupting exports from two major ports. The attacks occurred on Monday and Tuesday near Novorossiysk and Tuapse, with four vessels hit on Tuesday morning.

The affected ships included the Victoria V, which was scheduled to load wheat at Novorossiysk, and the Fehu, which had already left the port with a cargo of wheat. The Elina B was also struck after loading 56,000 metric tons of wheat in Novorossiysk.

The Russian government has downplayed the extent of the damage, but an increasing number of shipowners are wary of calling at its ports due to intensifying Ukrainian attacks. Ukraine and Russia account for over a quarter of global wheat exports, and the attacks have raised concerns about global grain supplies.