Ukraine's sea ports blockaded by Russian forces, crippling exports

Ukrainian seaports remain blocked by the Russian Black Sea Fleet, crippling the country's export of essential goods including grain and oils.

At least 70 vessels - up to 95% of them being international ones - are blocked at Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.

The impact is being felt by traders in the country, with Ukraine is losing millions of dollars due to the export issues while the failure to deliver essential goods, primarily grains, by sea has put world food security at risk.

"While we used to have about a 6,000000-ton turnover via ports and other transportation hubs, right now, we are at 600,000-700,000 monthly," grain trader Vitaly Lavrov said.

Hundreds of ships have also lost the chance to set sail in Crimea.

With boats not able to leave, fishing businesses on the peninsula have been suffering.

"The company is suffering losses," local businessman Andrey Bezukh said.

"We had 100 tons of flatfish and brill projected for 2022. And that's only a part of the whole quota for the Republic of Crimea which is 352 tons."

He added people had been forced to look for other work with ships not able to set sail.

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