British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned Russia’s intensified attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, saying they delay crucial aid to Palestinians and halt grain supplies to the global south.
“Russia’s indiscriminate strikes on ports in the Black Sea underscore that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin is willing to gamble on global food security in his attempts to force Ukraine into submission,” Starmer said.
His remarks highlighted growing international concern over the broader impact of the war beyond Europe.
The United Nations expressed alarm on Monday, reporting that Russian strikes since September 1 have damaged six civilian vessels and grain infrastructure.
In a statement, the UN called the intensification of attacks “distressing,” emphasising the devastating effect on global food supply chains.
British Defence Intelligence has reported that at least four merchant vessels in the Black Sea were hit by Russian munitions between October 5 and October 14.
“Putin is harming millions of vulnerable people across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East to try and gain the upper hand in his barbaric war,” Starmer added, underscoring the human toll of the conflict.
According to Starmer, the recent Russian strikes have caused delays to a ship carrying vegetable oil from Ukraine, which was intended for the World Food Programme (WFP) in Palestine.
Other vessels with grain bound for Egypt and WFP shipments for southern Africa have also been impacted.
These disruptions have compounded existing challenges in global food distribution, particularly for regions already grappling with food insecurity.
Ukraine, one of the world’s largest wheat and corn exporters, used to ship about six million tons of grain per month via the Black Sea before Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022. Despite the war, Ukraine continues to rely on grain exports as a vital source of revenue.
However, the collapse of a UN -backed Black Sea grain export initiative last year, which had provided safe passage for grain ships, has further complicated the situation.
Boluwatife Enome
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