Since the outbreak of the Russia–Ukraine conflict, at least 226 civilian and commercial vessels have been attacked in the Black Sea, with 163 of these incidents occurring in the first eight months of 2026 alone. Maersk, CMA CGM and Hapag-Lloyd have suspended some of their routes to Ukrainian ports, whilst MSC, Arkas Line and Akkon Lines have withdrawn from the Russian port of Novorossiysk; some cargo has been rerouted via the Baltic Sea, Romania and Poland. Meanwhile, speaking from Istanbul, President Zelenskyy announced a memorandum of understanding with President Erdoğan regarding a new Black Sea grain corridor, creating a situation where a 'deteriorating security situation' coexists with a 'diplomatic breakthrough'.
