Russia restricts nighttime vessel traffic in Novorossiysk port due to drone attacks

Russia has temporarily banned the movement of ships in and out of the port of Novorossiysk at night from midnight to 5 a.m.

The restrictions were imposed due to attacks by Ukrainian drones, sources in the grain industry told Reuters 

However, the order was verbal, and no official document was sent to shippers.

The sources noted that outside of the night restrictions, the port is operating as usual.

Novorossiysk is Russia’s largest port by transshipment volume. Up to a third of Russia’s grain exports pass through it. In addition to grain, the port also processes oil, metals and container cargo.

The restrictions in Novorossiysk were introduced after similar measures in the Sea of ​​Azov and the Kerch Strait. The Russian government had previously banned ships from anchoring in areas without air defense in the ports of Azov and Kavkaz.

Novorossiysk is seen as a likely destination for reorienting grain that was previously exported through the Sea of ​​Azov.

September wheat futures on the Euronext exchange rose 4.5% on the news of the overnight port closure.

Earlier, USM reported that Greece had urged its ships to increase security in the Black Sea after attacks on tankers.