Ukraine: Russian airplanes dropped bombs on Black Sea maritime channels

On November 1, Ukraine stated that Russian airplanes had dropped “explosive objects” into the expected routes of civilian ships in the Black Sea three times in the previous 24 hours, but that its budding commerce channel was still operational.

Ukraine is attempting to resurrect its critical seaborne exports by constructing a new shipping path through Romanian and Bulgarian territorial waters without Russian agreement.

Russia warned it would consider any vessel a potential military target after withdrawing from a UN-brokered arrangement that allowed some food exports to continue despite the fighting in July. Romania and Bulgaria are NATO members.

“The invaders are continuing to terrorise the paths of civilian shipping in the Black Sea with tactical aviation, dropping explosive objects into the likely paths of civilian vessel traffic,” warned Ukraine’s military commander of the southern region.

“Three such drops have been recorded in the last 24 hours.” “However, the navigation corridor remains operational under the supervision of the defense forces,” the statements reads.

The Russian defense ministry did not respond to a request for comment.

According to the Suspilne public station, a spokeswoman for Ukraine’s southern command claimed on Tuesday that Russia was regularly dropping guided aircraft bombs, sea mines, or other as-yet unknown explosive devices along the corridor.

In October, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the export corridor would continue to operate despite Russian threats, and that he had discussed vessel insurance with at least one western leader.

Ukraine’s President made the remark following reports from a Kyiv-based consultant, a British security business, and a specialized Ukrainian ports source that Kyiv had been obliged to cease usage of the corridor due to threats from jets and sea mines.

However, Ukrainian officials denied that the route had been suspended. They claim that dozens of cargo ships have used the route since it opened in August.

Zelenskyy met with Bulgarian Prime Minister Nikolai Denkov to discuss methods to bolster Black Sea security in the face of Russian air attacks and threats to freedom of navigation.