Kyiv says Russia targeting grain infrastructure after pulling out of export deal
Mike Brest
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Ukraine accused Russia of targeting its grain export infrastructure in overnight strikes at two of its Black Sea ports.
Russia targeted the Odesa region for the second consecutive night, a day after it ended its cooperation in an agreement that allowed vital Ukrainian grain exports to leave port. Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 63 missiles and drones across the country, 37 of which it was able to shoot down. Ukraine is usually able to shoot down a higher percentage of them in recent months.
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“Russian terrorists absolutely deliberately targeted the infrastructure of the grain deal,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Telegram. “Every Russian missile is a strike not only on Ukraine but on everyone in the world who wants [a] normal and safe life.”
Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Odesa military, described the attack as “very powerful, truly massive,” and called it “a hellish night.”
Some of the grain export infrastructure at Chornomorsk port southwest of Odesa was damaged, Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky said, while 60,000 tons of grain had been destroyed.
The United Nations and Turkey first brokered the Black Sea agreement last July to curb a growing global food shortage that had been exacerbated by Russia’s refusal to let Ukrainian exports leave for months. Kremlin officials had threatened previously to withdraw from the deal and ultimately did so under the belief they had not received adequate benefits in exchange for their participation.
Russia’s withdrawal threatens to choke off an export corridor that has allowed more than 32 million metric tons of grain to leave since the pact was first agreed to about a year ago.
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U.N. officials are exploring options of how to continue Ukraine’s exports despite Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement. One such proposal that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has received is to orchestrate a maritime military escort for cargo ships transporting grain from Ukrainian ports, according to Ukrainian and U.N. officials.
Russia had promised retaliatory actions for an attack that damaged the Kerch Bridge, which links Russia with occupied Crimea and is vital to their supply lines. The recent bridge attack was the second time it was targeted, presumably by Ukrainian forces.