Ship picking up Ukrainian grain hits Russian mine
KYIV, Ukraine — A civilian cargo ship struck a Russian mine in the Black Sea near Ukraine’s Danube ports Thursday, injuring two sailors, officials said, in an incident that underscored the dangers faced by those exporting Ukrainian grain during the war.
The Panama-flagged vessel struck the floating mine during stormy weather as it went to pick up grain, according to Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces, adding that churning seas often increase the risk from mines.
As the fighting grinds on through the winter and likely into a third year after Russia’s February 2022 invasion, and with little change on the front line, Ukraine is aiming to strengthen its financial resources for a protracted war.
After Russia pulled out of a U.N.-brokered export agreement, Ukraine launched a new Black Sea shipping corridor to get cargo to world markets. That has given a boost to Ukraine’s agriculture-dependent economy.
The mine incident occurred about 80 miles southwest of Chornomorsk, which is near Odesa on Ukraine’s southern coast, the Ambrey maritime risk analysis company said. The ship was on its way to Izmail, another local port.
The mine detonated at the ship’s stern, causing the vessel to lose power, Ambrey said. The captain reportedly maneuvered into shallow water to prevent the ship from sinking.
Ukraine’s muchanticipated counteroffensive last summer largely failed to shift the front line despite billions of dollars in weaponry sent by its Western allies. That has given confidence to the Kremlin’s forces, especially as further Western aid is in question.
One think tank argues the front line is not currently “a stable stalemate.” The Institute for the Study of War in Washington said in an assessment late Wednesday that “the current balance can be tipped in either direction by decisions made in the West or in Russia, and limited Russian gains could become significant especially if the West cuts off military aid to Ukraine.”