KIEV, Nov. 27 (Xinhua) -- Tensions in the Sea of Azov and the subsequent martial law in Ukraine may affect Ukraine's agricultural exports, a senior government official said on Tuesday.
Ukraine's First Deputy Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food, Maksym Martynyuk, said that the volume of transshipment in the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol may have to be reduced due to the tense situation in the Azov region.
Besides, the martial law regime, which has been imposed on all port regions, may affect the work of the country's whole export infrastructure, Martynyuk said.
During the martial law, he said, the defense sector will be a priority to use Ukraine's transport means, including rail cars, which are needed for agricultural logistics.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said that Russian forces opened fire and seized three Ukrainian ships near the Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, injuring six Ukrainian military sailors.
Russia's Federal Security Service said that the Ukrainian ships breached the Russian border, and conducted dangerous maneuvers in spite of Russia's orders.
The Ukrainian Navy said it has informed Russia in advance about the passage of Ukrainian vessels from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov through the Kerch Strait, calling Russia's actions an "act of aggression."
In the wake of the standoff, the Ukrainian parliament has adopted a bill imposing martial law on 10 Ukrainian regions for 30 days.
Ukraine's agricultural exports stood at 8.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2018.
