Russia Bolsters Azov-Black Sea Ship Protection Amid Escalating Attacks

Russia has stepped up its protection of cargo ships in the Azov-Black Sea basin, developing alternative routes to avoid hostile drone attacks on maritime vessels.

The Russian transport ministry established a task force to find new routes and switch cargo flows to other modes of transport, with stevedoring companies agreeing to handle additional cargo volumes and accelerate shipment rates at their terminals.

Russia's main grain lobby group warned that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships and ports could shut down grain exports via the Black Sea in the near future, pushing up prices and causing hunger in Africa and the Middle East.