Ensuring That There Is No Blockade in the Black Sea, President Zelensky Threatens to Destroy Russian Ships

President Zelensky was listening to directions from the Ukrainian military. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky says his country will stand up to Russia in the Black Sea, to ensure there is no blockade of the waters and that Ukraine can export grain and other goods safely, in a video published Tuesday.

The comments, published on the presidency's website, come days after a Ukrainian maritime drone loaded with explosives damaged a Russian warship near Russia's main port and rammed a Russian tanker.

"If Russia continues to dominate the Black Sea, outside its territory, blockades or shells us again, launches missiles at our ports, Ukraine will do the same. This is a fair defense against our opportunities, from any corridor," the President said Zelensky, according to Reuters on August 9.

"We don't have many ships. But they must clearly understand that at the end of the war, they will have no ships, zero," President Zelensky warned Russia.

Furthermore, President Zelensky called on Russia to stop firing missiles and drones at Ukrainian ports, allowing trade to take place, in comments made at a press conference with journalists from Latin American countries.

It was unclear when the briefing at his office in Kyiv took place.

It is known that tensions in and near the Black Sea have increased since Russia last month withdrew from a deal allowing the safe export of grain from Ukrainian ports.

Russian drones and missiles have repeatedly hit Ukraine's port facilities and grain warehouses.

Ukraine responded by launching sea drone strikes against Russian oil tankers and warships at the Novorossiysk Naval base, which is adjacent to the main grain and oil ports.

Russia blockaded Ukraine's Black Sea ports at the start of its invasion in February 2022. This blockade choked Ukraine economically because its pre-war economy was largely export-driven, with steel and grain the main exports.