Russia may continue to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying sea mines in the approach to Ukrainian ports in order to prevent the export of Ukrainian grain through the grain corridor, the British Foreign Office reports, citing intelligence data.

“The UK assesses Russia is seeking to target civilian shipping travelling through Ukraine’s ‘humanitarian corridor’ in order to deter the export of Ukrainian grain. This would continue Russia’s attempts to pressure the Ukrainian economy. Russia almost certainly wants to avoid openly sinking civilian ships, instead falsely laying blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea,” the message reads.

The Ministry stressed that the UK is committed to ensuring that Ukraine continues to export its agricultural products along all suitable routes, which include the grain corridor, as well as overland and across the Danube. To do this, we continue to work with Ukraine and a number of international partners.

However, it is noted that the best way to solve the problem of food security in the world would be for the Russian Federation to withdraw its troops from Ukraine and end the war.

Foreign Minister of the United Kingdom James Cleverly said that “Russia’s pernicious targeting of civilian shipping in the Black Sea demonstrates Putin’s total disregard for civilian lives and the needs of the world’s most vulnerable.”

“The world is watching – and we see right through Russia’s cynical attempts to lay blame on Ukraine for their attacks. We and our allies stand united against Putin and his attempts to harm Ukraine and thus harm the rest of the world,” the Foreign Minister stressed.

According to the ministry, since the withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, Russia has damaged 130 port infrastructure facilities in Odesa, Chornomorsk and Reni, destroyed almost 300,000 tonnes of grain – more than the total amount Russia promised to donate to African states, and enough to feed over 1.3 million people for a year.