Strict restrictions on shipping have been introduced in Russia's largest port, Novorossiysk. Ship movement is prohibited from midnight until 5:00 AM. The reason is the real threat of Ukrainian drone attacks. While official statements about the problems are absent, factual measures have already been implemented.
Verbal order and night silence
Information about the ban came from three sources in the grain industry. According to them, the order was given verbally, and there are no official documents available to the public. However, port services are acting decisively: the water area is blocked during night hours to prevent losses.
Outside of these hours, the port operates in normal mode. Insiders claim that grain shipments have not been critically affected, but logistics chains are forced to adapt to the new conditions.
Economic consequences
Novorossiysk is a key export hub through which up to a third of Russian grain passes. Restrictions here directly affect the global market. Immediately after news of the night closure, September wheat futures on the Euronext exchange rose by 4.5%, signaling tension in supplies.
This is not the first step to restrict shipping. Previously, similar measures were introduced in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait. Now, the government has expanded the risk zone, banning mooring in ports without air defense systems.
Oil sector under attack
The threat is also spreading to the oil industry. In April of this year, following a night drone attack in Novorossiysk, a Transneft facility caught fire. The largest tankers in the country are serviced there.
The consequences of the incident are already felt: the average monthly oil export has fallen to a minimum in the last eight months. The main reason was the prolonged downtime of the Shesharis terminal in Novorossiysk.
The situation demonstrates that even in the absence of official statements about problems, the reality on the ground requires strict security measures. And these measures inevitably reflect on the economy and global markets.
