Severe storm in the Black Sea causes shutdown of oil and grain ports in Russia and Ukraine

A severe storm in the Black Sea has disrupted the loading of crude oil and grain from key ports in Russia and Ukraine, leaving over a million people without power across the region. The storm forced the Caspian Pipeline Consortium’s oil terminal and a nearby facility in Novorossiysk to temporarily halt loading operations, with winds reaching up to 90 miles per hour. The storm, expected to last for most of the week, also caused disruptions in Kazakhstan’s crude exports and halted grain shipments through the Kerch Strait.

The storm also impacted Ukraine, with major ports in Odessa across the Black Sea halting shipments. Around 2,046 towns and villages in Ukraine have lost power, and heavy snow closed major roads in the southern Odessa and Mykolaiv regions. In Russia, areas including Dagestan, Krasnodar, and Rostov, as well as Crimea and other occupied territories, were left without electricity. The storm is expected to ease later in the week, allowing for a potential resumption of operations at the affected ports.

The disruption caused by the storm in the Black Sea has had a significant impact on the region, including halted oil and grain shipments, power outages affecting over a million people, and disrupted transportation due to heavy snow. The storm’s effects have been felt in both Russia and Ukraine, with operations at key ports and power supplies being severely affected. The situation is expected to improve as the storm eases later in the week, allowing for a potential resumption of operations at the impacted ports.

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