Ukraine will consider any vessels heading towards Russian seaports and occupied Ukrainian seaports as carrying military cargo.

The press service of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine stated this on its social media pages.

“The Russian Federation has once again brutally violated the universal right to free navigation for the whole world and is deliberately undermining food security, dooming millions of people to starvation,” the statement reads.

The Ministry of Defense warns that the decision will enter into force from 00:00 on July 21, 2023, and all vessels that violate the ban will bear the associated risks.

In addition, shipping in the areas of the northeastern part of the Black Sea and in the Kerch-Yenikal Strait of Ukraine is prohibited as dangerous from 05:00 am on July 20, 2023.

Relevant navigational information for mariners has already been made public.

“The fate of the cruiser Moskva proves that the Defense Forces of Ukraine have the necessary means to repel Russian aggression at sea,” the Ministry added.

It should be noted that the Ukrainian Navy is armed with Harpoon and Neptune anti-ship missiles, the range of which is limited to 280 kilometers.

This is enough to hit targets located in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.

The main Russian maritime traffic passes in the northeastern part of the sea, where, most likely, the main threat to Russian vessels will be maritime drones.

Ukrainian naval drones have repeatedly attacked Russian vessels in various parts of the Black Sea.

Ukrainian naval drones of an unknown type attacked the Russian SIGINT vessel Priazovye 300 kilometers southeast of Sevastopol.

The Ivan Hurs ship was attacked 140 kilometers northeast of the Bosphorus Strait.

In addition, drones attacked Russian bases in Sevastopol and Novorossiysk.