Russia’s use of its new Banderol cruise missiles has sharply reduced commercial shipping through Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, with Ukrainian officials describing an increasingly dangerous situation for cargo vessels.

Axar.az reports, citing The Telegraph, that more than 200 civilian vessels have been targeted in the Black Sea since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.

Ten crew members were killed when the cargo ship Golden Leo was struck by three Russian missiles while sailing from Chornomorsk.

The Banderol missile, launched from Russian-occupied Crimea, can reach speeds of up to 400 mph and carry a 114-kilogram warhead. Ukrainian officials say its use has increased since mid-July.

Dmytro Barinov, president of the Ukrainian Ports Association, said only about one vessel a day passed through Odesa between July 20 and Aug. 20, compared with seven or eight previously.

“Ship owners, if they take the risk, want to make it as small as possible,” Barinov said, adding that crews were increasingly afraid to enter Ukrainian ports.

The attacks have also affected Ukraine’s grain exports, which fell by about 75% year-on-year in the first half of August, according to the report.

Ukrainian Navy spokesman Dmytro Pletenchuk said Kyiv was working to adapt to the new threat and would find a way to restore the maritime corridor.