Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Taras Vysotsky said the government has not imposed any restrictions on shipping, but shipowners themselves decided to halt entries because of the heightened threat. As of July 23, no commercial vessel had entered a Ukrainian Black Sea port in the morning, according to the MarineTraffic monitoring website. Just two days earlier, on July 21, four to five ships were still calling at ports, Vysotsky noted.
Vysotsky cautioned that it is too early to speak of a complete blockade of Ukraine's maritime exports. The government is seeking ways to ensure stable operation of the sea corridor, which he described as a matter of national security. The situation may change daily, he added.
Danish shipping giant Maersk, one of the world's largest carriers, has paused operations at the Ukrainian port of Chornomorsk in Odesa Oblast. Another major carrier, Hapag-Lloyd, has also suspended operations there. Both companies cited rising risks. Cargo is being redirected to Romania's Constanța port.
Russia has intensified attacks on vessels near Odesa. Between June 20 and July 20, the Russian military struck 28 civilian commercial ships in the ports of “Greater Odesa,” the Odesa prosecutor's office reported. The attacks killed 21 people and wounded 34.
Ukraine's exports have not completely stopped: deliveries continue via alternative routes—road and rail through Poland and Romania.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said Moscow is “holding global food security hostage.” He compared Russia's actions to Iran's attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz. Ukraine has called an emergency session of the UN Security Council for July 27.