Putin Threatens to Sever Ukraine's Maritime Access After Black Sea Tanker Attacks
Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a stark warning on Tuesday, stating Russia's intent to "cut Ukraine off from the sea" in direct retaliation for recent drone assaults targeting tankers associated with Russia's "shadow fleet" in the Black Sea. Putin, in televised remarks, declared this "the most radical solution" to prevent what he termed "piracy."
The Russian leader further asserted that Moscow would intensify its strikes on Ukrainian facilities and maritime vessels. He also indicated that measures would be taken against tankers from any countries found assisting Ukraine in these maritime actions.
Context of Recent Maritime Incidents
This aggressive stance follows several reported incidents. On Saturday, a Ukrainian security official confirmed that Ukrainian naval drones successfully struck two sanctioned tankers in the Black Sea. These vessels were reportedly en route to a Russian port to load oil designated for international markets. More recently, on Tuesday, a Russian-flagged tanker, laden with sunflower oil, reported a drone attack off the Turkish coast. While all 13 crew members remained unharmed, Turkey's maritime authority and the Tribeca shipping agency confirmed the incident. Ukraine, however, explicitly denied any involvement in this specific attack.
The ongoing conflict has seen Ukraine previously launch missile and drone attacks on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk, which have caused disruptions to oil shipments.
Unclear Implementation Amidst Ongoing Conflict
Despite Putin's strong rhetoric regarding severing maritime access, he did not provide details on how Russia plans to implement such a blockage. Russia has seized significant portions of southern and eastern Ukraine since the full-scale invasion began in February 2022. Nevertheless, Ukraine retains firm control over crucial port cities, including Odesa, which remain vital for its economy and defense.
