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Russia weighs arming civilian grain ships as Sea of Azov risk rises
Ukrainian grain export capacity via the Black Sea has fallen by a third after strikes, while wheat futures in mid-July reached about $7 a bushel, the highest since May 2024.
World Grain reports that Bloomberg, citing documents it reviewed, said Russian authorities are considering adding military-grade defenses to civilian grain carriers operating in the Sea of Azov amid Ukrainian drone attacks on ships.
The discussed measures include temporarily reinforcing bulk carriers with armor plating, sandbags and anti-drone mesh, plus installing mounting points for heavy machine guns and mobile missile launchers. Russian officials also are considering naval patrol-boat escorts for grain convoys between the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea, with shipowners and grain traders expected to finance the modifications and protection, according to the report.
The article says Russia began suspending shipments from Sea of Azov ports about two weeks after repeated strikes on ports, merchant vessels and other maritime infrastructure. It also notes that Ukraine had not targeted Russian grain infrastructure and ships until recently, after Russia hit a Guinea-Bissau-flagged cargo ship on July 19 near Odesa, killing 10 people.
World Grain adds that strikes and attacks have reduced Ukraine’s grain export capacity via the Black Sea by a third, citing the nation’s main farmers’ union. The piece also points to market pressure, noting wheat futures in mid-July hit roughly $7 a bushel, the highest since May 2024, and says Russia is estimated to have shipped 48 million tonnes of wheat in the 2025-26 marketing year.
Latest closeWheat $664.75 ▲0.7%