Russia lays additional Black Sea sea mines, may attack civilian shipping – UK

Reuters reports Barbara Woodward said the UK has information indicating “the Russian military may move beyond attacks on Ukrainian grain facilities to target civilian shipping in the Black Sea”.

“Our information also indicates that Russia has laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports. We agree with the US assessment that this is a coordinated effort to justify and lay blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea,” Woodward said.

She added that British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has shared the information with Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a phone call on Tuesday.

“I think the absurdity of using such heavy duty weaponry to destroy food shows that weaponising global food supplies is a calculated part of Russia’s strategy. And it demonstrates that for all its rhetoric, Russia doesn’t care one bit about people across Africa, Asia and Latin America facing famine and drought,” the UK’s ambassador to the UN was quoted as saying. 

Russian leader Vladimir Putin is due to host African leaders in St. Petersburg this week and has promised free Russian grain "to replace Ukrainian grain."

"It would be wonderful if African leaders were really strong in their messaging to President Putin," said Woodward, adding that Russia's investment in Africa was about 1% of Africa's GDP. 

"Russia is not driving Africa's growth. Russia is driving Africa into poverty," she concluded.