An Israeli merchant ship, Ams1, defied Russia’s blockade of the Black Sea, entering the Ukrainian basin of the Danube on Monday afternoon.
Openly stating its destination, the Israeli ship departed from Ashdod Port, and made its way across the Black Sea on a direct route, assisted by American aircraft P8 Poseidon who provided aerial security to the vessel. Despite Russian threats ordering the ship to turn back, the ship broke the blockade followed by four further vessels; the Israeli Sahin 2, the Turkish-flagged Yilmaz Kaptan, the Greek-flagged Sealock and the Georgian-flagged Afer.
On 17th July, Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, a UN-brokered agreement to export Ukrainian grain and unblock its ports. The agreement, in place for 11 months, allowed Ukraine to ship 32 million tonnes of grain to global markets. On 20th July, Russia declared that all ships sailing to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea would be considered military vessels and therefore legitimate military targets. They have since attacked Ukrainian ports including launching a drone assault on the port of Reni on 24th July.
In order to keep the Ukrainian grain corridor open, Ukraine has changed its course, ensuring the corridor stays within Romanian waters. Croatia and Ukraine have also reached an agreement to utilise Croatian ports on the Danube and the Adriatic Sea to export Ukrainian grain.
The ports on the Danube are much smaller than Ukraine’s main port, Odessa, which has been subject to Russian targeted attacks. The Danube ports are located close to NATO-allied waters, providing a potential cover against Russian attacks.
The Russian Black Sea Fleet looked on as the civilian vessels made their way to Ukraine.
