Flash Report: Russian Strikes On Civilian Cargo Ships — Implications

Over the last five weeks, Russian forces have launched six attacks on cargo vessels moored in Odesa-area ports and in the Black Sea, resulting in numerous casualties. The attacks have already caused war insurance premiums to rise for vessels transporting grain and other goods from Ukraine. Should the Russian authorities continue this tactic, the implications for the Ukrainian economy, particularly the agriculture sector, could be significant, increasing Ukraine’s dependence on more expensive and potentially politically contentious trade routes overland and via Danube ports.