Ukraine has formally requested the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to deploy a monitoring mission to its southern Odesa region ports, as Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha reported on Wednesday. This request comes in response to a surge in Russian missile strikes targeting Ukraine’s port infrastructure, which have resulted in damage to four foreign-flagged civilian vessels since October 6.
Sybiha emphasized that these attacks pose a significant threat to global food security, given Ukraine’s status as a leading grain exporter. Prior to Russia’s invasion in 2022, Ukraine was exporting approximately 6 million tons of grain monthly via the Black Sea, with around 85% of its food exports still relying on these ports.
Recent Russian aggression has reportedly led to a dramatic rise in insurance costs for shipping, with some bookings being canceled due to heightened risks. Over the past three months, Ukraine claims that Russia has conducted nearly 60 attacks on its ports, damaging or destroying almost 300 port facilities and impacting 22 civilian vessels.
