According to Reuters, Russia suspended navigation on the Don‑Azov waterway after Ukrainian forces attacked 13 Russian ships, including ten tankers, in the Sea of Azov. The Russian border guards announced they would stop accepting applications for passage through the Kerch Strait from 18:10 local time on Friday. The move directly threatens the export of wheat, as up to a quarter of all Russian wheat shipments pass through the Sea of Azov. The agency quoted market sources who called the decision a response to the recent maritime attacks. This information is taken from a Reuters report published on the BFM Telegram channel.
Experts note that a halt to traffic in the Don‑Azov basin will ripple through global grain markets, because the region is a key transit point for Russian agricultural exports. Within a day after the announcement, wheat prices on the Euronext exchange jumped more than 4%, reflecting market anxiety over supply tightness. Analysts warn that the interruption could push importing countries to seek alternative suppliers, potentially raising food costs worldwide. The disruption also adds pressure on Russian ports in Azov, Rostov‑on‑Don and Taganrog, where queues of grain trucks have begun to form.
Public reaction online is mixed: some users express concern about the impact on food security, while others see the closure as a strategic move in the ongoing conflict. Discussions highlight the vulnerability of shipping routes in conflict zones and the broader implications for energy and grain price stability. Many commentators stress that the situation underscores the need for diversified export corridors to reduce risk for both producers and consumers. Despite the tensions, there is also recognition that the crisis may spur investment in alternative infrastructure.
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