UK allocates $155 million to protect ships in Black Sea from Russia's attacks
Photo: Britain defends a sea corridor in the Black Sea from Russian attacks (Getty Images)
The UK is providing an additional £120 million ($155 million) to the Maritime Capability Coalition to protect the Black Sea Grain Corridor, according to the UK government.
London is looking for partners to co-finance the supply of hundreds of additional maritime drones as well as surveillance radars to protect the grain corridor.
“The UK has been at the forefront of work to protect the maritime corridor in the Black Sea,” the statement says.
The Maritime Capability Coalition, led by the UK and Norway, focuses on providing future naval capabilities for Ukraine and has been instrumental in equipping the Ukrainian Navy with maritime drones.
The UK and Norway will also jointly provide £100 million to co-finance hundreds more projects.
Recent deliveries have included dozens of all-terrain vehicles and raid boats, hundreds of anti-ship missiles for coastal defense and riverine operations, and hundreds of thousands of rounds of ammunition for machine guns.
Russia's strikes on ports
According to the UK government, Russia has stepped up attacks on Ukraine's port infrastructure in the Black Sea, delaying the delivery of vital aid and halting the delivery of critical grain supplies to the south of the planet.
The intensification of attacks coincides with the harvest season in Ukraine, which remains a major supplier of agricultural products critical to global food security.
UK intelligence shows that there has been a marked increase in Russia's willingness to take risks in striking port infrastructure, and grain carriers have been targeted in the Russian campaign.
Russian strikes are believed to have delayed the departure of the MV SHUI SPIRIT from Ukraine, which was carrying oil destined for the World Food Program in Palestine.
The strike also targeted ships loaded with grain destined for Egypt, two ships carrying corn, and World Food Program cargo bound for South Africa.
According to military intelligence, at least four merchant ships were attacked between October 5 and 14, 2024.
“Russia’s indiscriminate strikes on ports in the Black Sea underscore that Putin is willing to gamble on global food security in his attempts to force Ukraine into submission,” Prime Minister Keir Starmer says.
Following Russia's recent strikes, defense measures will be stepped up in Odesa's ports. The focus is also on personnel safety and infrastructure restoration.
