Ukraine seeks U.N. Security Council meeting over Russian attacks on civilian vessels, acting FM Sybiha says

Ukraine has requested an urgent meeting of the U.N. Security Council after Russian attacks on civilian cargo vessels disrupted shipping through the Black Sea corridor, Acting Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.

According to Sybiha, no maritime exports departed from Ukraine's deep-water ports on July 22 because of Russian attacks on civilian ships.

"Russia is holding global food security hostage. Over the past few days, Russia has struck at least three civilian cargo vessels. Dozens of crew members have been killed or injured. Today, not a single vessel passed through Ukraine's Black Sea maritime corridor at the peak of the harvest season. This is deliberate economic and humanitarian terror," Sybiha said.

Ukraine has therefore requested an emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council on July 27.

"We call on all states, especially those affected, to immediately demand that Russia stop its attacks on freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. No country has the right to starve the world. Global pressure can stop Russian terror," he said.

Sybiha compared Russia's attacks on Black Sea shipping to Iran's attacks on energy routes in the Strait of Hormuz, warning that continued disruption could drive up food prices and increase hunger for millions of people across Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America.

Earlier on July 22, Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi told Latifundist.com that inbound vessel traffic to Ukraine's seaports had been temporarily suspended, although it was too early to describe the situation as a full blockade of maritime exports.

Vysotskyi said the government was working on measures to help restore shipping.

"The government will use every available measure to ensure stability. I will not comment on the details yet. First, all proposals need to be consolidated, after which the decisions will be communicated," he said.

According to the minister, the situation can change from day to day. Following a sharp rise in security risks, shipowners have suspended operations while assessing the new conditions before deciding whether to resume voyages, making it impossible to predict how long the current pause will last.