As of July 20, Russia will consider all maritime vessels en route to Ukrainian Black Sea ports as potentially carrying military cargoes, the Russian Defense Ministry has said.
The announcement comes two days after Moscow withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, which had allowed Ukraine to export grain—despite ongoing hostilities—through the Black Sea.
“Given that the Black Sea initiative has come to an end … all ships going across the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports will be considered potential carriers of military-purpose cargoes,” the ministry declared on the evening of July 19.
Countries whose flags are affixed to such vessels, it added, would be viewed as “parties to the conflict on the side of Ukraine.”…