According to Ukrinform, citing Bloomberg, the warning was published in the Russian Ministry of Defense's weekly bulletin on July 22.

The notice is addressed to all vessels operating within Russia's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea. It warns of potential threats posed by Ukrainian aerial and maritime drones.

An exclusive economic zone is a maritime area extending up to 370 kilometers from a country's coastline. Russia's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea provides access to several national ports, including Novorossiysk, a key regional hub for commodity exports.

The Russian Defense Ministry's warning comes amid daily Ukrainian attacks on vessels in the Black and Azov seas aimed at disrupting Russian export shipments.

According to statements by Ukraine's General Staff, at least 124 Russia-linked vessels, including 89 tankers, were attacked in the Black and Azov seas between July 8 and July 20.

Read also:Zelensky warns Russia escalating attacks to shut down Ukraine’s grain corridors

Following these strikes, the Port of Novorossiysk introduced a temporary verbal ban on northbound vessel traffic until 05:00 local time for security reasons. Even such restrictions could affect at least part of cargo transportation, as the port normally operates around the clock.

Russia has also been attacking Ukraine's key Black Sea ports, including Odesa and Chornomorsk. Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Taras Vysotskyi, said that as a result, shipowners have temporarily suspended calls at Ukraine's Black Sea ports for agricultural exports.

As Ukrinform reported, Kazakhstan has been forced to halt oil transportation to its main export terminal on Russia's Black Sea coast after a series of attacks on tankers put the country's exports at risk.

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