During the War, russia Attacked 260 Merchant Vessels Heading to Ukraine

At Ukraine’s request, the IMO Secretariat circulated the relevant appeal among all member states of the organization, as well as intergovernmental organizations and non-governmental organizations with consultative status at the IMO, according to the ministry’s press service.

It is noted that during July and the first half of August 2026, russia attacked 52 civilian vessels, some of which were carrying food and other cargo to Ukrainian ports or sailing from them, while others were in ports. The attacks resulted in deaths and injuries among crew members, damage to vessels and additional threats to the safety of navigation.

«These are not isolated incidents. russia’s daily attacks on civilian vessels and port infrastructure pose a threat to civilian navigation, international supply chains and global food security. The Ukrainian maritime corridor is important far beyond the Black Sea. More than half of the cargo consists of grain for more than 55 countries that critically depend on regular supplies of Ukrainian grain,» Mykola Kalashnyk stressed.

Since the beginning of russia’s full-scale invasion, 1,090 port infrastructure facilities and 262 merchant vessels have been damaged or partially destroyed. As a result of the attacks, 329 civilians have been killed or injured.