Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has effectively halted all maritime trade in Ukrainian ports, according to the recently declassified US intelligence, cutting off a critical commodity of export for Ukraine and risking a global food crisis .
In the months since Russia moved to invade in February, it has established an “effective blockade” on the northern third of the Black Sea, according to a U.S. official who provided a declassified map of the region to CNN on condition of anonymity.
The map analyzes the density of ships entering and leaving Ukrainian ports before and after the start of the conflict, showing an almost total drop in commercial traffic in the Black Sea and Azov Sea ports after the start of the conflict. invasion. . A third map provides a current view of the density of Russian naval vessels grouped in the Black Sea off the coast of Ukraine, highlighting “the focus of activity,” according to the US official.
“The impact of Russia’s actions cannot be underestimated, as Ukraine’s maritime exports are vital to global food security,” the US official said, echoing the widespread assessment of Western analysts and government officials.
Ukraine supplies about 10 percent of the world’s wheat exports, the official said, with the vast majority coming out of the country’s Black Sea ports.
Some context: Before the war, Ukraine was the world’s fourth largest exporter of corn and the fifth largest exporter of wheat, according to the US State Department. Almost 30% of world wheat trade comes from Russia and Ukraine alone.
The United Nations World Food Program, which helps combat global food insecurity, buys about half of its wheat in Ukraine each year and has warned of the dire consequences if Ukrainian ports are not opened.
Last week, CNN reported that the U.S. and its allies are holding talks on how to safely develop routes to transport grain from Ukraine amid concerns about global food supplies. New satellite imagery reported by CNN on Monday seems to corroborate Ukraine’s claims that Russia is also stealing grain stores that have been idle in commercial ports.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Russia has intimidated trade traffic, occasionally prevented safe passage to Ukraine through the Kerch Strait, and more visibly parked warships off the coast of Ukraine. and has hit Ukrainian ports, the US official said.
CNN’s Alex Marquardt contributed to this post