Russia puts Black Sea ships on alert following exit from grain deal: Report

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AFP further reported. In response, the Russian defence ministry stated that any ships travelling to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea would be treated as possible carriers of military cargo. Furthermore, the flag states of these vessels would be considered as taking part in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of the Kyiv regime.

Last year, when Moscow launched its campaign in Ukraine, Black Sea ports were initially blocked by warships until a UN and Turkey-brokered agreement was reached. However, on Monday, the Kremlin announced its decision to withdraw from the deal. This decision came after months of complaints from Russia, stating that a related agreement that permitted the export of Russian food and fertilizers had not been respected or upheld.

Moscow also accused Ukraine of using the Black Sea grain corridor for "combat purposes". A senior United States security official told AFP on Wednesday that Russia is considering attacking civilian ships on the Black Sea and putting the blame on Kyiv. National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge cited Russia's release of a video showing its forces detecting and destroying an "alleged Ukrainian sea mine".

"Our information indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports," he said, adding the allegation was based on newly declassified intelligence. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine for these attacks." The Russian army said in a statement it had hit "military industrial facilities, infrastructure for fuel, and ammunition depots of the Ukrainian armed forces near the city of Odesa" in the overnight assault. But Kyiv said the strikes had destroyed