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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
In 2026 year, the Black Sea became the deadliest maritime route in the world by the number of sailors killed on merchant fleets. At least 40 crew members died and more than 570 vessels were hit. This is according to Hlavkom with reference to the Financial Times.
Attacks on ships have quintupled
According to Ambrey, a company specializing in maritime security and risk assessment, in July–September about 387 ships were struck in the Black Sea. This is more than fivefold higher than the previous quarter. On average, attacks occurred more than four times a day.
According to Ambrey, roughly 90% of the attacks on shipping in the last 45 days targeted Russia. The number of mariners killed on merchant ships in the Black Sea has reached at least 40. For comparison, in the Strait of Hormuz, 24 deaths have been confirmed. Data on losses in the Persian Gulf and adjacent waters are published by the International Maritime Organization.
map: Grain Central
The escalation of maritime confrontation began in the summer. Ukraine intensified its campaign against Russian shipping, trying to disrupt supply of diesel fuel to the occupied Crimea. Russian ships transporting grain were also targeted.
Russia, in turn, stepped up attacks on vessels heading to Ukrainian ports. According to the Financial Times, Russian strikes continued after the intensity of Ukrainian attacks had diminished.
The danger spread beyond routes to Ukrainian ports. Attacks affected ships near the coasts of Romania and Bulgaria, increasing risks for international shipping across the entire Black Sea region.
Insurance is becoming more expensive, shipowners are at risk
The rise in attacks directly affects the cost of marine transport. Estimates suggest that war-risk insurance for ships in the Black Sea can cost up to 15% of their value. This is nearly twice as high as in the Persian Gulf.
To cut costs, shipowners are sending older vessels into dangerous waters. Some of them may be up to 50 years old. Using aging fleets in combat-risk zones heightens concerns about crew safety and the reliability of deliveries.
Not only the work of individual companies is at risk. Black Sea ports are crucial for exporting Ukrainian grain and other agricultural products. A reduction in voyages and higher insurance costs complicate deliveries to international markets.
Ukrainian farmers risk being left without money for sowing
In August, maritime exports of Ukrainian agricultural products fell to 1,4 million tons. According to the FT material, this is approximately 75% below prewar levels.
Kernel agroholding head Andriy Verevsky warned of risks for small and medium-sized farms. If ports remain blocked and a significant portion of producers' income goes to transport costs, farmers may run out of funds for preparations for the spring sowing campaign.
The problem extends beyond individual enterprises. Ukrainian producers depend on the ability to export harvests to external markets, and maritime routes enable moving large quantities of products. Higher insurance costs, fewer voyages, and the threat of new strikes create additional financial pressure on the agricultural sector.
As a reminder, in July, the head of the Ukrainian Ports Association, Dmytro Barinov, explained to Hlavkom why land routes cannot fully replace maritime transport. He noted that one large vessel can carry cargo that would require thousands of trucks. Therefore, even expanding alternative routes does not eliminate Ukraine's export dependence on sea ports. More details in the interview about the possibilities of Ukrainian maritime export.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Чорне море стало найсмертоноснішим морським маршрутом у світі – FT". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: ZmiOne.
