Ukraine suspends traffic along Black Sea grain corridor due to threat from Russian warplanes

Update: Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov denied that Black Sea corridor traffic has been suspended.

Ukraine suspended operations of the Black Sea grain corridor due to threats posed by Russia, reports RBC Ukraine, referencing Kyiv-based consulting firm Barva Invest and a statement by the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority (USPA).

According to the outlet, USPA sent out a statement that vessel movement along the corridor would be suspended on October 26, 2023. Barva Invest noted that “it’s not out of the question that the [suspension] will be extended.”

The company also added that this suspension has been in effect for the past two days. “This suspension was already de facto in effect because of the military’s decision, which referred to the ‘threat of explosion,’ resulting from increased Russian aviation activity,” reads the statement.

The company also brought attention to a statement from Nataliya Gumenyuk, a spokeswoman for Ukraine’s southern military command, about Russian warplanes recently dropping four unknown, presumably explosive devices, in the “grain corridor.” Referencing the British security firm Ambrey, Reuters writes that the explosives may have been acoustic or magnetic naval mines.