MOSCOW: Tensions in the Black Sea escalated on Tuesday as Russia claimed the destruction of two Ukrainian military boats, as tension in the region mounts following Russia’s withdrawal from a crucial grain export deal last month, further intensifying the ongoing conflict between the two countries.
The conflict intensified after the collapse of a United Nations-brokered agreement designed to facilitate safe navigation for civilian grain ships through the shipping hub of the Black Sea. Both sides have since engaged in escalated attacks, inflicting damage on critical port infrastructure and maritime assets.
Russia’s military actions have targeted Ukraine’s port infrastructure along the Black Sea and Danube river. In response, Kyiv has launched attacks on Russian vessels in its waters, including the Crimean Peninsula that was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
According to Moscow’s defence ministry, one of its Sukhoi Su-30sm jets destroyed a Ukrainian “reconnaissance boat” near Russian gas production facilities in the Black Sea. Additionally, a US-made speedboat carrying Ukrainian troops was reportedly destroyed to the east of Snake Island, although specific details were not provided.
These developments come in the wake of the recent arrival of the first civilian cargo ship from Ukraine to Istanbul, which defied the Russian blockade in the Black Sea. Russia’s announcement last month, considering any ships approaching Ukraine in the Black Sea as potential military cargo carriers, had indicated the gravity of the situation following the collapse of the grain deal.
Russia Downs Two Ukrainian Drones
In a separate incident, Russia’s defence ministry claimed that its forces had successfully downed two Ukrainian drones approximately 40 kilometers northwest of the Crimean Peninsula.
The tensions have led to an array of clashes, including Russia targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure and Ukraine retaliating by attacking Russian ships in its waters and the annexed Crimean Peninsula. The situation has deteriorated further with the reported destruction of Ukrainian drones and a missile strike on a theatre in Chernihiv, resulting in casualties.
As the violence continues, Ukrainian forces have made limited gains in pushing Russian forces out of territory, calling for greater military support from Western allies. President Volodymyr Zelensky secured the acquisition of over 40 F-16 fighter jets during his recent trip to the Netherlands and Denmark, with Greece offering assistance in training Ukrainian pilots. A coalition of 11 nations is set to commence pilot training later this month, aiming to prepare pilots for combat by early 2024.
