Britain warns of Russian attacks on cargo ships

Declassified intelligence says cargo ships travelling through the humanitarian corridor for grain exports are at risk.

The Eneida bulk carrier sails towards the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Chornomorsk last month. Picture: AFP

The British government on Wednesday warned that Russia could target civilian shipping in the Black Sea by laying sea mines on the approaches to Ukrainian ports and then blaming Ukraine.

London in September said Russian forces targeted a civilian cargo ship in the region with “multiple missiles” but these were successfully intercepted by air defences.

Citing declassified intelligence, it said there was a risk of attack to cargo ships travelling through Ukraine’s “humanitarian corridor” to deter Ukrainian grain exports.

“Russia’s pernicious targeting of civilian shipping in the Black Sea demonstrates (Vladimir) Putin’s total disregard for civilian lives and the needs of the world’s most vulnerable,” said Foreign Secretary James Cleverly.

“The world is watching -- and we see right through Russia’s cynical attempts to lay blame on Ukraine for their attacks.”

Mr Cleverly’s department said by releasing its assessment of intelligence reports, “the UK seeks to expose Russia’s tactics to deter any such incident from occurring”.

Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July. Since then, Russian attacks have damaged 130 port infrastructure facilities and destroyed nearly 300,000 tonnes of grain – enough to feed more than one million people for a year, the UK said.

AFP