The restriction was said to have been communicated verbally, without an official notice to shipping companies and the port was still operating normally outside those hours, with grain shipments not yet affected. Novorossiysk is Russia’s largest port by cargo volume and a major outlet for grain, oil, metals and containers. JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The nighttime closure follows earlier restrictions in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, as Ukraine has increased attacks on Russian vessels and maritime infrastructure that affect routes used for a large share of Moscow’s grain exports. Grain that had been moving through the Sea of Azov could now be redirected to Novorossiysk. Before the full-scale invasion, Ukraine accounted for around 6% of global wheat exports. PAP/Alena Solomonova Shipping disrupted on both sides Shipping disruption is also affecting the Ukrainian side of the Black Sea. Danish shipping giant Maersk said on Wednesday that it had suspended services from Chornomorsk’s fishing port in southern Ukraine until further notice. Although the company did not directly blame Russian strikes, it said shipments would temporarily be redirected to the Romanian port of Constanța.