“Russia is holding global food security hostage” — Kyiv initiates Security Council meeting

At the height of the harvest on July 22, not a single ship passed through the Ukrainian maritime corridor.

Ship traffic through the Ukrainian sea corridor has virtually stopped. Ukraine has initiated an urgent meeting of the UN Security Council for July 27, Acting Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said.

“Russia is holding global food security hostage. Over the past few days, Russia has bombed at least three civilian cargo ships. Several dozen crew members have been killed and injured. Today, not a single ship passed through the Black Sea sea corridor of Ukraine — right at the peak of the harvest,” he wrote on the social network X.

The minister called Russia’s actions a deliberate act of economic and humanitarian terror. He also drew a parallel with the situation in the Middle East.

“Just as Iran attacked energy routes in the Strait of Hormuz, Russia is now striking at global food markets in the Black Sea,” Sibiga said. “We call on all states, especially those affected, to immediately demand that Russia cease its attacks on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. No country has the right to starve the world. Global pressure can stop Russian terror.”

The latest attacks on civilian shipping have become systemic. In particular, on July 21, Romanian President Nicos Dan reported that the Liberian-flagged propane tanker Gas Lisbon was hit about 20 nautical miles off the Romanian coast. Two rescued crew members said that the vessel was hit by three attack drones.

Grain and other agricultural products are exported through the Ukrainian maritime corridor to countries in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Latin America. The Foreign Ministry warns: continued attacks threaten to increase food prices and the risk of famine for millions of families in these regions.

Also, the day before, USM wrote that the Russian Federation’s attacks on ports are increasing the cost of logistics and the purchase prices of grain.