Russia Declares Occupied Ports Of Mariupol & Berdyansk Open To Foreign Ships, Ukraine Condemns

Ukraine has strongly protested Russia’s decision to declare the occupied ports of Mariupol and Berdyansk open to foreign ships. The order was issued by the Russian government on August 22 and listed both ports as part of Russia’s official seaports.

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement on August 25 condemning the move, calling it another attempt by Moscow to legalise its occupation and establish control over Ukrainian territories seized by force.

Officials described the Russian decree as a direct violation of international law, including the UN Charter, the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea of 1982, and multiple UN General Assembly resolutions affirming Ukraine’s sovereignty.

The ministry said that the decision is “null and void” and urged Western partners to introduce strict sanctions against Russian individuals, companies, and foreign businesses if they conduct commercial activity through Mariupol or Berdyansk. Ukraine also called for sanctions against vessels that enter these occupied ports.

Kyiv appealed to the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to remind member states of their duty to respect the closed-port regime and asked countries to use their national laws and international commitments to take action against violators.

Before the Russian invasion, Mariupol was Ukraine’s tenth largest city and the second largest in the eastern region. It was a vital seaport handling grain, coal, and metals with 22 deep-water berths. When the war began in 2022, several foreign ships were trapped in Mariupol until many months later when they were able to leave.

The city fell under Russian control in May 2022 after weeks of heavy fighting and a prolonged siege, during which the seaport became a central target. Since then, Ukraine has accused Russia of exporting stolen minerals and grain from Mariupol, although regular commercial operations have largely remained suspended. Per reports, 40,000 to 60,000 tonnes of minerals per month are currently being shipped through the port.

Berdyansk, located about 50 miles west of Mariupol, was captured by Russian forces in March 2022, within the first month of the war. It was reported to have been reopened by Russia and used for military supply transport.

Ukrainian media claims that over 300,000 tonnes of grain have been shipped through Berdyansk since the occupation. In 2023, more than 212,000 tonnes of grain from the Zaporizhzhia region were exported through Mariupol and Berdyansk to countries including Syria, Libya, Turkey, and even to the Houthis in Yemen.

In Crimea, Kyiv seized and auctioned ships carrying commercial cargoes from its ports and also prosecuted crew members with fines and jail terms. Officials warn that similar actions could be taken against ships entering Mariupol and Berdyansk, now under Russian control.

Russia, on the other hand, sees reopening the ports as a way to strengthen its hold on occupied areas. Reports say that during a recent meeting with Donald Trump in Alaska, President Vladimir Putin indicated Moscow would retain control of the Sea of Azov ports and the Zaporizhzhia region in any future peace deal. Trump reportedly suggested that land ‘swaps’ could be discussed in negotiations.

References: united24media, english

Source: Maritime Shipping News