Black Sea Becomes World’s Deadliest Shipping Route

The Black Sea has become the world’s deadliest shipping route this year, with attacks killing more seafarers than strikes in the Strait of Hormuz and the wider Middle East, The Wall Street Journal reported.Maritime security company Ambrey recorded more than 300 attacks in the Black Sea. More than 30 seafarers were killed and over 20 remain missing, the newspaper reported, citing the Turkish Shipowners’ Association, MarineTraffic reports, and local authorities.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official.By comparison, about 130 attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and elsewhere in the Middle East have killed 25 seafarers since fighting between the US and Iran began in late February.Ukraine has expanded drone strikes against Russia’s export infrastructure and shipping, while Russia has sustained attacks on Ukrainian ports and merchant vessels carrying the country’s exports.Ambrey said in a September assessment that Russia’s campaign had targeted the Greater Odesa ports, the Danube ports of Izmail and Reni, and ships both underway and at anchor. Ukraine’s attacks have extended to Russian ports, terminals, and vessels trading through the open sea, including tankers associated with Russia’s shadow fleet.The danger has increasingly spread beyond waters off Ukraine and Russia toward other Black Sea states.Ambrey recorded 45 merchant vessels struck outside the previously designated war-risk area in the 12 months through Sept. 21, compared with none in the preceding 12 months. The company said aerial and maritime drones had overtaken sea mines as the dominant floating hazard. Other Topics of Interest Putin’s ‘Permanent Peace’ Pitch Comes With New Demands for Ukraine Witkoff says he will brief Zelensky on the Kremlin talks, while Kushner reveals US discussions with Europe on the continent’s future security. In September, the shipping insurance industry’s Joint War Committee expanded its designated risk area to cover almost the entire Black Sea, excluding the territorial waters of Turkey, Romania, Bulgaria, and Georgia. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization, reporting since 1995. Its international reach – 90% of readers are outside of Ukraine – make it truly Ukraine’s global voice.