Russia Suspends Sailing In Azov Sea, Ukraine Asks Turkey To Close The Black Sea

Russian battleship Marshal Ustinov (055). (Wikimedia Commons/LPHOT SEELEY/MoD)

JAKARTA - Russia has suspended commercial shipping in the Sea of Azov until further notice, but has kept its Black Sea ports open to navigation, officials and five grain industry sources said on Thursday.

Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized a "special military operation" against Ukraine on Thursday to eliminate what he described as a serious threat, saying the goal was the demilitarization of Russia's southern neighbor.

Russia, the world's largest wheat exporter, ships most of its grain from ports on the Black Sea. Meanwhile, the Sea of Azov is home to shallow water ports with smaller capacities.

"All the ships are 'stopping' (in the sea of Azov)," a grain industry source told Reuters on condition of anonymity, as quoted on February 24.

It is known, Russia and Ukraine accounted for 29 percent of global wheat exports, 19 percent of the world's supply of corn (corn), and 80 percent of world sunflower oil exports.

Russia produced 76 million tonnes of wheat last year and is expected by the US Department of Agriculture to export 35 million tonnes in the July-June season, 17 percent of the global total.

Not only that, but Russia is also known to supply wheat to all major global buyers. Turkey and Egypt are the biggest importers

Separately, Ukraine has asked Turkey to close the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits to Russian ships, Ukraine's ambassador to Ankara said on Thursday, after Russia launched air and ground strikes, the Daily Sabah reported.

The request puts NATO member Turkey, which shares maritime borders with Ukraine and Russia on the Black Sea and has good relations with both countries, in a difficult position. Under the 1936 pact, Ankara had control of the strait and could restrict the passage of warships during times of war or if threatened.

"We call for the airspace, the Bosphorus and the Dardanelles to be closed. We have conveyed our relevant demands to the Turkish side. At the same time, we want sanctions imposed on the Russian side. In particular, we demand the closure of these areas. The shares of the Russian business world in here," Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar told a news conference in Ankara.

He underlined the importance of providing defense weapons, as well as financial and humanitarian assistance.

"We also ask for support to Ukrainian citizens currently in Turkey, especially those who need additional protection and security," he added.

He stressed that this was the first time in the region that a nuclear-armed state had launched an "open attack" on another independent country and "started a war." He said Russia was attacking Ukraine on all fronts, including borders with Crimea and Belarus and the eastern Donbas region.

"Ukrainian armed forces and our regional security units are fighting against the Russian invaders," he said.

To note, Ukraine has declared martial law, he said, adding that it has decided to end diplomatic relations with Russia. According to reports, Russia is using weapons and missiles to target key areas in Ukrainian cities.