On July 14 2026 Ukraine launched strikes at 11 Russian ships in the Sea of Azov. A series of strikes followed repeated similar attacks on ships. Russia shut the shipping lanes fast and called the strikes terror acts. Kyiv said it hit over a hundred ships in eight days, with most badly damaged. Standard export paths are now blocked for traders. Major outlets and Al Jazeera say new route talks are already under way. Moscow stated it will respond but Ukraine kept up strikes on Azov ships that day.