The Ukraine Crisis
On February 24, 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine in a major escalation of the Russo-Ukrainian conflict that began in 2014. Russian now controls the Azov Sea and occupies the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol. It has also blockaded all Ukrainian Black Sea ports which are currently closed to all shipping. This category includes all aspects of the conflict affecting ports – port status and alternative export routes. (Updated 24.06.2022)
Update: No mine involved in cargo ship explosion in Black Sea
Sulina, Romania (Ports Europe) September 24, 2023 – No floating naval mine was involved in the explosion on September 20 that damaged and practically sunk...
Russia’s Black Sea fiasco – Ukrainian cargo corridor working
Odesa, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 24, 2023 – Russia’s leverage over Ukraine’s exports of grain via the Black Sea is eroding as more...
Update: Three big cargo ships defying Russian blockade entered Ukrainian ports
Odesa, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 22, 2023 – Three more big cargo ships defied the Russian navy blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea harbours on September...
Three big cargo ships heading to Ukrainian ports defying Russian blockade
Odesa, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 22, 2023 – Three more big cargo ships defy the Russian navy blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea harbours and are heading...
Large grain ship has left Chornomorsk port
Kiev, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 22, 2023 – The Aroyat ship has left the Port of Chornomorsk, said Oleksandr Kubrakov said Ukrainian deputy prime...
First ship hit by a mine in Black Sea – unconfirmed
Sulina, Romania (Ports Europe) September 20, 2023 – General cargo ship Seama (4,300 DWT) under the flag of Togo became the first vessel to be allegedly hit...
First cargo vessel left Chornomorsk port defying Russian blockade
Chornomorsk, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 19, 2023 – The first vessel since Russia exited the UN-brokered deal for the export of Ukrainian grain via the...
Container ship from Odessa arrives in Cagliari
Cagliari, Sardinia, Italy (Ports Europe) September 19, 2023 – The Mediterranean Intermodal Terminal Operator (MITO) terminal in Cagliari has welcomed the...
Update: Two cargo ships entered Chornomorsk
Chornomorsk, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 17, 2023 – The first two cargo ships that defied the Russian navy blockade of Ukrainian Black Sea ports entered...
Fifth ship went through Russian blockade in the last day of NATO exercise
Istanbul, Turkey (Ports Europe) September 16, 2023 – In the last month, a fifth ship has left Odessa region ports despite the Moscow-announced blockade of...
Oleksandr Kubrakov: Another ship blocked due to the war has left Odessa
News Release – Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine – September 15, 2023 The bulk carrier PUMA (Cayman Islands) left Odesa Seaport this morning...
Second Russian drone attack in a week against Izmail and Reni
Kiev, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 13, 2023 – A second Russian drone attack in a week early on September 13 damaged grain infrastructure in...
NATO naval exercise near Danube delta, Russia losing its grip on Black Sea
Bucharest, Romania (Ports Europe) September 10, 2023 – Romanian and United States naval forces are the organisers of a multinational naval exercise Sea...
Reuters: Lloyd’s in talks with the UN for insurance of Ukrainian grain shipments
London, United Kingdom (Ports Europe) September 7, 2023 – Lloyd’s of London is in talks with the United Nations (UN) over providing insurance cover...
Russia to be expelled from the Danube Commission
Budapest, Hungary (Ports Europe) September 7, 2023 – For weeks now Russia has been attacking Ukrainian Danube River ports of Izmail, Reni and Kylia with...
Ships carrying products from Ukrainian metals companies have broken the sea blockade
Odessa, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 6, 2023 – The local Metinvest Group has published a press release saying that for the first time since the...
Russia attacks Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail
Odessa, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 6, 2023 – Earlier today, Russia attacked the Danube inland port of Izmail, in the Odessa region. The...
United Nations Black Sea Grain Initiative – grain statistics
Istanbul, Turkey (Ports Europe) September 5, 2023 – The Black Sea Grain Initiative was signed on July 27, 2022, enabling limited exports of Ukrainian...
New Russian drone attack against Danube port of Reni
Reni, Ukraine (Ports Europe) September 3, 2023 – Iranian-made Russian drones attacked again Ukrainian Danube River port of Reni during the night of September...
Russia will try to build fertilisers terminals in its ports
Taman, Russia (Ports Europe) September 3, 2023 – Unable to export its huge fertiliser output via the ports of the neighbouring countries due to Western...