Ukrainian President’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, raised concerns on Friday about Russia’s actions in the Black Sea, accusing Russian warships of threatening civilian vessels. Yermak called on the international community to condemn what he described as “the methods of terrorists.”
Last week, Russia withdrew from a UN and Turkey-brokered agreement that allowed Ukraine to safely export grain through the Black Sea. Instead, Russia issued a warning that ships heading to Ukrainian seaports could be treated as military targets.
Yermak expressed grave concerns over Russia’s actions, stating that they are in violation of international maritime law and endangering civilians in the region. In a separate incident, Ukraine’s border guard service reported intercepting a warning from a Russian warship to a civilian vessel near a Ukrainian port. The Russian party allegedly warned the ship about a ban on movement to Ukrainian ports and claimed that transporting any cargo to Ukraine could be considered the transport of military goods. Additionally, the flag of the vessel’s country would be considered a party to the conflict in Ukraine.
The situation in the Black Sea remains tense, with Ukraine seeking international support to address Russia’s threats to civilian ships and the disruption of grain exports.