Ukraine’s Defense Ministry: ships traveling to Russian Black Sea ports will be considered military carriers

Beginning at midnight on July 21, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry will consider all ships traveling to Black Sea ports in Russia or Russian-occupied territories to be carrying military cargo “with all the corresponding risks.”

The Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s warning came in response to a similar announcement by Russia’s Defense Ministry on July 17. Ukraine also banned shipping in the northwestern part of the Black Sea and the Kerch-Yenikale canal.

Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said that the Kremlin has turned the Black Sea into a danger zone, primarily for Russian shipping, by threatening ships and firing on civilian cities.

“The responsibility for all risks lies fully with Russian leadership. The fate of the cruiser Moskva shows that Ukraine’s Defense forces have the necessary means to defeat Russian aggression at sea,” says a statement from the Defense Ministry.