Russia Steps Up Ship Protection in Black Sea as Attacks Threaten Grain Exports

By Reuters Aug. 3, 2026 Grain shipment at the port of Novorossiysk. Ivan Studenov (CC BY-SA 4.0) Russia's Transportation Ministry said Monday that it was stepping up protection of ships in the Azov-Black Sea basin while also developing alternative cargo routes, in a move that follows a sharp escalation of attacks at sea by both sides in the war in Ukraine. In response to what it called a "tense situation... stemming from hostile drone attacks on maritime vessels," the ministry formed a joint task force with Russia's Defense Ministry to reroute freight, protect commercial ships and shift cargo flows to alternative transit modes. "A number of port operators have already expressed their readiness to handle additional cargo volumes and accelerate shipment rates at their terminals, within the limits of their operational capabilities," it said in a statement. Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, and Ukraine, also a major agricultural exporter, have been attacking each other's agricultural export facilities and commercial vessels in the Black Sea area in recent weeks, driving wheat prices higher on global markets. Russia’s main grain exporters union warned Friday that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian ships and ports could shut down grain exports via the Black Sea in the near future, pushing up prices and causing hunger in Africa and the Middle East. Ukraine's largest farming union has also warned in recent weeks that Russian strikes on shipping near the southern port of Odesa are restricting Ukrainian exports during the key harvest period and could affect global food supplies. Read more about: Black Sea , Agriculture , Transport Sign up for our free weekly newsletter Our weekly newsletter contains a hand-picked selection of news, features, analysis and more from The Moscow Times. You will receive it in your mailbox every Friday. Never miss the latest news from Russia. Preview Subscribers agree to the Privacy Policy We sent a confirmation to your email. Please confirm your subscription. A Message from The Moscow Times: Dear readers, We are facing unprecedented challenges. Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization, criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution. This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent." These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia. The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate, unbiased reporting on Russia. We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, we need your help. Your support, no matter how small, makes a world of difference. If you can, please support us monthly starting from just $2. It's quick to set up, and every contribution makes a significant impact. By supporting The Moscow Times, you're defending open, independent journalism in the face of repression. Thank you for standing with us. Once Monthly Annual Continue Not ready to support today? Remind me later. × Remind me next month Remind me Thank you! Your reminder is set. We will send you one reminder email a month from now. For details on the personal data we collect and how it is used, please see our Privacy Policy. Read more Ust-Luga Port Explosion Kills 3 Foreigners, Media Reports The Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga has been a regular target of Ukrainian drone attacks since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began. 1 Min read Explained: War Hits Home by Thwarting Russians’ Air Travel More than 200 flights were delayed or canceled in Moscow on Tuesday following a major drone attack. It's just the latest in a string of mass disruptions... 3 Min read Man Jailed for Treason After Attempted Swim to Odesa A man who tried to join the Ukrainian army by swimming from Crimea to Odesa has been jailed for six years. 2 Min read Record Harvest Won't Help Struggling Russian Wheat Producers Russia may harvest between 114 and 116 million tons of wheat this year, a record for post-Soviet Russia, according to the head of the Russian Grain Union...