The US has data that the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy “is beneath orders to successfully blockade the Ukrainian ports of Odesa and Ochakiv,” a US official advised CNN, citing what was described as not too long ago declassified intelligence.
In response to this official, that intelligence additionally revealed indications that Russian forces are deploying mines within the Black Sea and have beforehand mined the Dnipro River.
Western officers have accused Moscow of “weaponizing” meals provides as leaders and specialists warn of a looming meals disaster with thousands and thousands of tons of Ukrainian grain unable to achieve to international market because of the battle.
“We will verify that regardless of Russia’s public claims that it isn’t mining the northwestern Black Sea, Russia truly is deploying mines within the Black Sea close to Ochakiv,” the US official advised CNN Thursday.
The Guardian first reported on the findings of the newly declassified intelligence.
Moscow has claimed it isn’t impeding agricultural shipments from Ukraine and has stated Kyiv should de-mine the waters for the ships to transit.
“The Russian Federation shouldn’t be creating any obstacles for the passage of ships or vessels. We’re not stopping something,” Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov stated in early June.
On a name with reporters Thursday, hosted by the US State Division’s Africa Regional Media Hub, Ukrainian International Minister Dmytro Kuleba stated, “We shouldn’t be shopping for the argument that it’s Ukraine who blocked the ocean with its mines so as to not enable the cargo or the vessels to return out and in.”
“Russia was mining the ocean. We had been mining the ocean to defend ourselves. The Russians had been mining it to — to not enable — to destroy our ships,” he stated. “The true challenge is what occurs when the harbor is demined. Who will guarantee and the way it may be ensured that Russia is not going to abuse open harbor and assault Odesa from the ocean? That is the query that everybody is rattling their minds on: methods to be sure that Russia doesn’t assault Odessa from the ocean.”
