RAF aircraft are protecting cargo vessels carrying grain from Ukraine, following Russian attacks.

The Telegraph reports.

In recent weeks, UK planes have been patrolling over the Black Sea to deter Russians from carrying out strikes on civilian vessels.

Grain from the Black Sea region is considered vital for staving off hunger in lower-income countries.

“We will use our intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance to monitor Russian activity in the Black Sea … As part of these surveillance operations, RAF aircraft are conducting flights over the area to deter Russia from carrying out illegal strikes against civilian vessels transporting grain,” Downing Street said.

Militarnyi earlier reported that the Russian patrol ship Vasily Bykov attacked a civilian dry cargo ship.

The Project 22160 Vasily Bykov patrol ship opened a warning fire on the civil cargo ship Sukru Okan, sailing the Palauan flag. After the ship did not stop, armed paratroopers were landed on board.

“Vladimir Putin is the architect of his own diplomatic exile, isolating himself in his presidential palace and blocking out criticism and reality. The rest of the G20, meanwhile, are demonstrating that we will turn up and work together to pick up the pieces of Putin’s destruction. That starts with dealing with the terrible global consequences of Putin’s stranglehold over the most fundamental resources, including his blockade of and attacks on Ukrainian grain,” British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said.

In August, Ukraine announced the creation of temporary corridors for merchant vessels.

It is reported that the vessels will be under military threat and mine danger from the Russian Federation throughout the entire route.

In July, Russia announced its withdrawal of shipping safety guarantees within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

The statement of the aggressor country noted that without their participation, the agreement would cease to operate on July 18.

Thus, Russia closed the maritime humanitarian corridor and restored the regime of a temporarily dangerous area in the northwestern Black Sea.