Russia ends Black Sea Grain Initiative participation and strikes Ukrainian ports
Russia ends Black Sea Grain Initiative participation and strikes Ukrainian ports. The disruption ran from 2023-07-17 (17 July 2023) to 2023-08-16 (16 August 2023), 31 days, affecting Odessa, Chornomorsk, Izmail, Reni. Odessa averaged 0.1 calls per day during the event window against an expected 0.1 (+0.0). Chornomorsk averaged 0.0 calls per day during the event window against an expected 0.4 (-0.4).
Key facts
- Started
- 2023-07-17 (17 July 2023)
- Ended
- 2023-08-16 (16 August 2023)
- Status
- ended
- Severity
- 3 Significant
- Scope
- regional
- Chokepoints
- None
- Ports
- Odessa, Chornomorsk, Izmail, Reni
- Lanes
- None
- Countries
- Ukraine
- Confidence
- medium: The start date and the strikes on port facilities are documented by United Nations sources, while the end date rests on the first departure through Ukraine's own corridor as announced by Ukrainian authorities and reported by Ukrainska Pravda.
- First reported
- 2023-07-17 (17 July 2023)
- Severity basis: Port closure of 7 days or more; grain exports through the Black Sea corridor stopped at Odesa and Chornomorsk from 2023-07-17 until a first departure on 2023-08-16.
What happened
On 2023-07-17 (17 July 2023) the Russian Federation ended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative and withdrew its security guarantees for navigation in the north western Black Sea, which stopped grain exports through the corridor serving Odesa and Chornomorsk. Strikes on port and grain infrastructure at Odesa and Chornomorsk followed from 2023-07-18, and Danube river ports used as an alternative route, including Izmail and Reni, were struck from 2023-08-02. A senior United Nations official told the Security Council that port infrastructure at Odesa and Mykolaiv was being targeted and that more than 60,000 tonnes of grain had been destroyed. Ukraine opened its own corridor, and the first civilian ship left Odesa on 2023-08-16 (16 August 2023).
Measured effect
Port calls, Odessa
- Baseline (expected)
- 0.1 calls per day
- Observed
- 0.1 calls per day
- Change
- +0.0 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
- Standardised score
- +0.0
- Event window
- 2023-07-17 to 2023-08-16 (31 days)
- Baseline window
- 2023-05-15 to 2023-07-09 (56 valid days)
- Method
- wfm-effect-1.0
- Computed
- 2026-09-19 (19 September 2026), data revision 1:e4f08c4f8831
Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms.
This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.
Port calls, Chornomorsk
- Baseline (expected)
- 0.4 calls per day
- Observed
- 0.0 calls per day
- Change
- -0.4 (percent omitted, baseline too small)
- Standardised score
- -0.4
- Event window
- 2023-07-17 to 2023-08-16 (31 days)
- Baseline window
- 2023-05-15 to 2023-07-09 (56 valid days)
- Method
- wfm-effect-1.0
- Computed
- 2026-09-19 (19 September 2026), data revision 1:d924549c3efd
Source: IMF PortWatch (portwatch.imf.org), International Monetary Fund, using UN Global Platform AIS data. Statistics derived by World Freight Monitor. Terms.
This is a measured change in public data during the event window, compared with a baseline before it. It shows timing, not cause. We describe an event as causing a change only when an official source says so.
Timeline
- The United Nations Secretary-General says he regrets the Russian Federation's decision to terminate the Black Sea Initiative, including the withdrawal of security guarantees for navigation in the north western Black Sea. [s1]
- A senior United Nations official tells the Security Council that port infrastructure at Odesa and Mykolaiv has been targeted since the initiative ended and that more than 60,000 tonnes of grain has been destroyed. [s2]
- Drone strikes damage port and grain storage infrastructure at the Danube port of Izmail. The regional authorities reported fires at port and industrial facilities and a damaged elevator. [s3]
- A container ship leaves Odesa as the first civilian vessel to use the corridor Ukraine opened after the initiative ended, according to the Ukrainian president and the infrastructure ministry. [s4]
Cause
The Russian Federation ended its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative on 2023-07-17 and withdrew security guarantees for navigation, as stated by the United Nations Secretary-General. Strikes on port facilities were reported to the Security Council by the United Nations and by Ukrainian regional authorities. Attributed by: United Nations Secretary-General. [s1] [s2] [s3]
Resolution
Corrections
No corrections to this record as of 2026-09-16 (16 September 2026).
Sources
- [s1] United Nations, Secretary-General Says Russian Federation Decision to Stop Implementing Black Sea Initiative Will 'Strike a Blow' to Hungry, Hurting People in Need Everywhere, published 2023-07-17 (17 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
- [s2] United Nations, Attacks on Odesa Port, Grain-Storage Facilities Latest Victims in Moscow's 'Senseless' War against Ukraine, Senior Official Tells Security Council, published 2023-07-21 (21 July 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (official)
- [s3] Al Jazeera, Russia targets Odesa port, angering Ukraine and nearby Romania, published 2023-08-02 (2 August 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)
- [s4] Ukrainska Pravda, First civilian ship goes through Ukraine's new humanitarian corridor - Zelenskyy, published 2023-08-16 (16 August 2023), accessed 2026-09-15. Archived copy. (press)