Russia attacks areas of ships' navigation in grain corridor
Natalia Humeniuk, spokeswoman for the Southern Ukrainian Defense Forces (Getty Images)
Russian forces are dropping aerial bombs daily in the vicinity of shipping routes within the Ukrainian grain corridor, according to Natalia Humeniuk, a spokesperson for the Southern Ukraine Defense Forces.
According to Humeniuk, there is currently no observable naval activity by the enemy within the grain corridor area. However, Russians are attempting to monitor the situation through the use of tactical aviation.
"They are sending aircraft there daily to drop guided aerial bombs precisely in the area where ships are likely to traverse, those who have opted to utilize the humanitarian corridor proposed by the Ukrainian Defense Forces," Humeniuk revealed.
She said that such guided aerial bombs could lead to the detonation of sea mines, of which there are a significant number in the Black Sea waters.
"In other words, they are resorting to remote terror tactics," added Humeniuk.
Russia aims to obstruct the humanitarian corridor
British intelligence reported yesterday that Russia intends to lay sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports to obstruct the export of grain through the temporary humanitarian corridor.
Russia may also continue to target civilian navigation in the Black Sea, including the placement of sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports.
British intelligence believes that Russia is attempting to threaten civilian vessels passing through the "humanitarian corridor" in order to exert economic pressure on Ukraine.
"Russia almost certainly wants to avoid openly sinking civilian ships, instead falsely laying blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea," the intelligence report says.
