The United Kingdom, citing intelligence sources, stated that Russia might use sea mines against civilian shipping in the Black Sea, including by laying them on the approach to Ukrainian ports. The warning came as Ukraine’s navy said that 12 cargo vessels were ready to enter a fledgling Black Sea shipping corridor on their way to Ukrainian ports. “Russia almost certainly wants to avoid openly sinking civilian ships, instead falsely laying blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
