Ukraine's military has suspended operations at its ports after Russian forces invaded the country by land and sea, an adviser to the president's chief of staff said on Thursday, as concerns grew about the flow of supplies from one of the world's top exporters of grains and oilseeds.
Russia had earlier suspended movement of commercial vessels in the Azov sea until further notice, but kept Russian ports in the Black Sea open for navigation, its officials and five grain industry sources said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized "a special military operation" against Ukraine on Thursday to eliminate what he called a serious threat, saying his aim was to demilitarize Russia's southern neighbor.