Russia and Ukraine trade accusations as attacks on Black Sea ports and grain infrastructure threaten to disrupt food exports and tighten global wheat supplies
Food exports have become another casualty of the Russia-Ukraine war, with attacks on ports, grain terminals and vessels disrupting shipments from two of the world’s biggest agricultural exporters.
The Kremlin said on Monday that Russia was taking measures to limit the impact of Ukrainian strikes on its grain exports, as global wheat buyers brace for tighter supplies following a series of attacks on Black Sea infrastructure.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said steps were being developed to ensure that Russian grain destined for foreign markets was shipped on time and in full.
The assurance comes as Moscow and Kyiv accuse each other of escalating attacks on vessels and infrastructure linked to agricultural exports. The disruption is particularly significant because the Black Sea is a crucial route for Russian and Ukrainian grain reaching markets across Africa, Asia and the Middle East.
Black Sea attacks threaten grain flows
The latest escalation has disrupted the logistics of the grain trade at a critical point in the export season.
Attacks on ports and grain terminals have forced some shippers to delay or cancel cargoes, while damage to infrastructure and heightened risks for commercial vessels have added uncertainty to shipments.
The immediate concern for global buyers is not an outright shortage of wheat. It is whether available supplies can be loaded, transported and delivered reliably.
Russia and Ukraine remain major suppliers to international grain markets. Any prolonged disruption to their exports could therefore force importers to look elsewhere, potentially increasing freight and procurement costs.
More from BusinessGlobal wheat prices have already reflected some of that concern. Reuters reported last week that Chicago wheat futures had risen more than 17 per cent since early July as traders assessed the growing risks to Black Sea exports.
Russia promises to keep exports moving
Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged last week that the country was facing difficulties with agricultural exports but said the problems would be resolved.
Putin estimated that Russia would have around 60 million tonnes of grain available for export during the current season. He also said there would be no shortage of grain on global markets.
Russian grain exports are expected to increase to around 2.2 million metric tonnes in August, from 1.95 million tonnes in July, according to consultancy Sovecon.
Moscow’s latest assurances are aimed at preventing concerns over attacks on Russian infrastructure from turning into a wider loss of confidence among international buyers.
But traders are also watching whether Russia can maintain the pace of shipments if attacks on ports and related infrastructure continue.
Kyiv says Moscow is tying grain security to energy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has accused Russia of refusing to agree to a limited ceasefire covering attacks on commercial vessels carrying agricultural products unless Kyiv also stops targeting Russian energy infrastructure.
Zelenskiy said Ukraine had proposed an arrangement under which attacks on civilian shipping in the Black Sea would stop. According to him, Russia wanted the proposal expanded to cover Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries and pipelines.
“For Russia, it’s not about the grain,” Zelenskiy said, arguing that Moscow was primarily seeking protection for its energy sector.
He said any wider agreement would also have to include reciprocal restrictions on Russian attacks against Ukraine’s energy infrastructure.
The Kremlin did not immediately comment on Zelenskiy’s remarks.
Russia and Ukraine trade accusations
The dispute follows an earlier Ukrainian proposal to halt attacks on civilian targets in the Black Sea.
Ukraine offered the proposal this month as concerns mounted over the safety of vessels carrying food exports. Russia rejected the idea, saying it saw no basis for what it described as a limited arrangement that would give the other side an advantage.
The disagreement has since become part of a broader contest over economic infrastructure.
Ukraine has stepped up attacks on Russian economic targets in recent weeks, including grain export facilities. Russia has continued attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, including energy assets that are critical to the country’s economy and civilian life.
The result is a growing risk that commercial infrastructure unrelated to direct military operations could become increasingly exposed.
Why the disruption matters to global markets
The Black Sea is particularly important for wheat-importing countries because of the scale of Russian and Ukrainian exports.
Egypt, one of the world’s biggest wheat importers, sourced more than 82 per cent of its wheat imports from Russia and Ukraine during the first half of 2026, according to Reuters.
For such buyers, disruption does not necessarily mean that wheat becomes unavailable. But replacing Black Sea cargoes with supplies from other producers can involve higher prices, longer shipping distances and additional freight costs.
That could eventually feed into the cost of flour and staple foods in countries heavily dependent on imports.
Other major exporters, including Australia, Argentina, the European Union and the United States, can provide alternative supplies. But the ability of those producers to compensate for a prolonged disruption in the Black Sea depends on harvests, available stocks, freight capacity and prices.
Food security becomes part of the war
The targeting of grain infrastructure adds a new dimension to the economic consequences of the conflict.
Energy facilities and oil infrastructure have already become strategic targets because of their importance to the economies of both countries. Grain terminals and shipping routes carry a different significance: disruption can quickly spill across borders and affect food-importing countries far from the battlefield.
That is why the latest attacks are being closely watched by grain traders and governments.
For Russia, maintaining exports is important not only for agricultural revenues but also for its position as a major supplier to global markets. For Ukraine, protecting its export routes is crucial to an economy that has relied heavily on agricultural shipments despite the war.
The Black Sea therefore sits at the intersection of military strategy, trade and global food security.
For now, Moscow says it has measures in place to keep Russian grain moving. Kyiv says Russia is seeking to link the safety of grain shipments to the wider battle over energy infrastructure.
Until the two sides reach an arrangement that can protect commercial shipping, the uncertainty will remain a risk for grain traders — and for countries that depend on the Black Sea for a significant share of their food supplies.
