The Russian intelligence agency announced that hundreds of mines were swept into the Black Sea after being disconnected from cables that linked them to Ukrainian ports. However, Kyiv rejected these claims, stating that they were disinformation and an attempt to close off a part of the sea. The Black Sea is a major maritime artery for grain and oil trade. The Novorossiysk port authority reported that navigation in the western Black Sea is now threatened.
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), the main agency that replaced the former Soviet KGB, stated in a press release: "Due to stormy weather, the cables connecting the mines to the anchors were severed." The statement added, "Due to winds and water currents, the mines drifted into the western section of the Black Sea." The agency claimed that about 420 mines had gone adrift, which were allegedly planted by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine, however, denied this warning as incorrect, stating they had no information about any mines drifting in the sea.
Victor Vishnov, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian State Maritime Administration, told Reuters: "This is completely misleading information from the Russian side." He added: "This was done to justify the closure of these areas in the Black Sea under the pretext of what is described as a mine danger." The Ukrainian Navy stated that it alone has the authority to issue security warnings regarding its section of the Black Sea and described the Russian warning as an attempt at "information piracy."
