Russia readies to reroute exports from Sea of Azov after Ukrainian attacks

SaveSharefacebookxwhatsapp-strokecopylinkUkrainian UAVs hit what the Ukrainian military says was a Russian tanker during a strike at a location given as the Sea of Azov in this screengrab taken from a handout video released July 9, 2026 [Commander of Unmanned Aerial Systems Force/Handout via Reuters]By AFP, DPA and ReutersPublished On 14 Jul 202614 Jul 2026Russia says it is working to reroute ⁠grain shipments from the Sea of Azov after its vessels came under Ukrainian attacks in the sea, as Kyiv claimed it hit 11 more Russian vessels in overnight strikes.Russia was preparing to use “alternative shipping routes” and may redirect cargo “to other modes of transport”, Russia’s Ministry of Agriculture said in a statement on Tuesday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Ukraine chokes fuel to Crimea, Russian consumers, targeting military supplylist 2 of 3Russian attacks kill five as Ukraine continues to target oil infrastructurelist 3 of 3Ukrainian attacks cause chaos at fuel stations across Russiaend of listThe ministry added that “the situation in the Azov Sea will not affect the domestic market’s food supply or our country’s export capabilities.”Ukrainian military commander Robert Brovdi said on Telegram on Tuesday that drone attacks hit 11 Russian vessels in the Azov Sea overnight. The targets included five tankers, five dry cargo vessels and a tugboat, bringing the total number of vessels struck in the past nine days to 116, he said.Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov accused Ukraine of carrying out “acts of terrorism”.“What the ‌Ukrainian regime is doing goes beyond even piracy. Pirates, at least, plunder and keep the spoils for ⁠themselves. But here, it ⁠benefits neither them nor anyone else – the goal is simply ⁠to cause damage and ⁠intimidate. It is ⁠terrorism, pure and simple,” Lavrov said.The attacks come as Ukraine steps up long-range strikes on Russian oil refineries and other energy infrastructure, triggering a fuel crisis in Russia. Russia’s Ministry of Defence said its air defences intercepted 288 Ukrainian drones across the country overnight. Russian authorities said falling debris from a drone attack injured one person and damaged houses in several villages.One attack sparked a fire at the Afipsky oil refinery, authorities in Russia’s Krasnodar region reported.Ukraine also struck another oil refinery in the republic of Bashkortostan, which had been hit twice in September 2025. Governor Radiy Khabirov said on Telegram that the attack hit an industrial area in the city of Salavat.Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries have contributed to a fuel crisis, leading Moscow to ban some fuel exports amid a global surge in energy prices.Russia’s Defence Ministry also said it hit targets in Kyiv, port infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region, and fuel storage facilities for Ukrainian forces in the port of Yuzhny.Ukrainian navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said ⁠Russian forces struck ⁠a civilian vessel ⁠near Ukraine’s Black Sea port ‌of Odesa. Pletenchuk ⁠reported no casualties ⁠in the ⁠attack.Meanwhile, Ukrainian military officials said their forces shot down seven missiles and 108 drones across the country.Ukrainian rescuers work to extinguish a fire at a damaged residential building following a Russian drone strike late night in Zaporizhzhia on July 12, 2026, amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine [File: Darya Nazarova/AFP]