Black Sea becomes world’s riskiest commercial route amid Russia-Ukraine war

The full-scale war between Russia and Ukraine has made the Black Sea the world’s most hazardous waterway for merchant vessels, with Ambrey and the International Maritime Organization reporting more than 570 attacks and at least 40 sailor deaths since the beginning of 2026. War-risk insurance premiums have surged to as much as 15% of a ship’s hull value, almost twice the cost for vessels transiting the Persian Gulf, leading many carriers to shun the route or deploy older, cheaper ships.

Crew recruitment now relies heavily on workers from Syria, Egypt and Azerbaijan; Syrian sailors earn roughly $800 per month and are promised double pay for each day spent in the combat zone, with families slated to receive $25,000-$50,000 if a sailor is killed. Ukrainian forces claim to have struck over 300 Russian vessels in an 11-week span, while Russian attacks are estimated to represent about 90% of commercial ship strikes in the past 45 days.

These maritime assaults have cut Russian wheat exports by 52% in September and reduced diesel shipments by 467,000 barrels per day, tightening global food and fuel supplies. Consequently, shipping companies are increasingly routing oil through the Strait of Hormuz, which is now viewed as a cheaper and safer alternative.