Russia Has Blocked Traffic in the Black Sea: Navy Reports a New Threat

UNIAN, screenshot from a video. Currently civilian shipping in the Black Sea is blocked by Russia; there is no navigation, in particular from the ports of Greater Odesa.

In the telethon briefing, Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said: "As of now, there is no navigation, that is, no passages. Accordingly, as has already been stated by representatives of the relevant ministry, the operation of the corridor has been suspended."

Answering a question about whether there is a way to counter Russian terrorism at sea, he said that this issue is currently being handled by all relevant defense forces units, including the Ukrainian Navy.

"In Odesa region, one can see and hear how Ukrainian aviation—Air Force, naval aviation, and army aviation—works. The Russians at some point, roughly from mid-July, changed their tactics in employing drones. They began periodically using loitering munitions such as the 'BanderoL' and 'Shahed-238'—drones with jet propulsion. Of course, we do everything we can to minimize these attacks." the spokesperson stressed.

He emphasized that Ukrainian troops will continue to work on countering Russia in the Black Sea, noting that crisis situations in the water area have been observed even before the full-scale invasion.

"Unfortunately, this is not the first, nor the second. In due course, the Naval forces found a way out of similar situations. Now, of course, we are working to reduce the impact in this situation as well. And I am confident that we will find that exit," Pletenchuk said.

Strike against the Odesa region

As UNIAN reported, the Russian army is delivering massive strikes on port infrastructure in Odesa region and on civil commercial ships that are moving along the sea corridor. The invaders attacked dry-cargo ships with wheat and corn leaving the ports of Greater Odesa. Many civilian sailors — foreigners and Ukrainian citizens — were killed. The Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk stated that Russia currently has parity in the sky over the Black Sea and cynically blocks civilian shipping in Odesa and Odesa region. The Navy acknowledged that they had not previously seen such massive use of jet drones.