Russia "preparing its fleet for the blockade of the Black Sea" against Ukraine with the risk of new violence

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly says Russia must stop hijacking the world's food supply after the Kremlin withdrew from wartime export deal allowing safe shipment of grain from Ukraine< /p> A man works on the rubble of a building destroyed in Russian missile attacks in Odessa, Ukraine (

Image: AP)

Russia could be preparing to block Ukraine by using its Black Sea Fleet to cut off vital trade routes, the UK has warned.

In its latest intelligence update, the Defense Ministry said Russia's Black Sea Fleet had "changed its stance" after pulling out of a wartime export deal allowing safe shipment of grain from Ukraine.

He warned "there is now a potential for an increase in the intensity and scale of violence in the region".

Western officials believe the Kremlin's decision to pull out of the deal and attack Ukrainian grain warehouses is "an own goal" for Vladimir Putin, who will face pressure from African leaders in due to food shortages.

Ukraine was considered the "breadbasket of Europe" and was one of the world's largest exporters of wheat, maize and sunflower oil before the war broke out.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said Russia must stop holding the world's food supply hostage (

Picture:

Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

Officials say Russia destroyed more than 60,000 tonnes of grain last week in attacks on depots, with drones targeting ports near Romania, which is a UK ally and member NATO.

They say the level of aggression in the Black Sea has increased and the strike on the Ukrainian port of Reni, across the Danube from Romania, was "risky" by the Kremlin.

>

"We've never seen this level of risk demonstrated before...