Russian drones launched attacks on a Ukrainian port city along the border with Romania, causing significant damage to grain facilities and sparking a massive fire. These strikes come after the end of a deal between Russia and Ukraine that allowed Ukrainian shipments to world markets from the Black Sea port of Odesa. Following the termination of the agreement, Russia has been targeting Ukraine’s ports, exacerbating the blow to the country’s crucial grain industry. Over the past two weeks, the port of Odesa and the region’s river ports, which are being used as alternative routes, have been subject to dozens of drone and missile attacks.
The attacks specifically targeted the city of Izmail, located on the Danube River, which forms part of the Ukraine-Romania border. Video footage captured by fishermen in Romania, a NATO member, showed explosions and a massive fire in the distance on the Danube. Ukraine’s South operational command stated on Facebook that the goal of the attacks was to target the facilities of the ports and industrial infrastructure in the region. The result of the strikes was a fire at industrial and port facilities, as well as damage to a grain elevator.
Ukraine’s air force intercepted 23 Shahed drones overnight, mainly in Odesa and Kyiv. All 10 drones that were fired at Kyiv were successfully intercepted. The intercepts caused loud explosions, and debris from the downed drones struck nonresidential buildings in three districts of the capital. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks, stating that Russian terrorists have once again targeted ports, grain facilities, and global food security. He called for the world to respond to these actions.
As a result of the recent attacks, wheat prices rose about 3% and corn prices increased by nearly 2%, showing the continued volatility in world markets affected by Russia’s targeting of Ukraine’s ports and agricultural infrastructure. Ukraine is a major supplier of wheat, corn, and other agricultural products crucial to the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia that are grappling with high food prices and hunger.
The deal between Russia and Ukraine that allowed for the reopening of three Ukrainian Black Sea ports, which had been blocked by fighting, and provided assurances of safety for ships entering the ports, ended last month. Russia opted not to renew the agreement, citing delays in its own exports. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, expressing his intention to restore the Black Sea initiative to export Ukrainian grain. Erdogan referred to the deal as a bridge of peace and stated that Turkey would continue diplomatic efforts to continue the initiative.
Amid the attacks, two civilians were wounded in the city of Kherson, while a doctor was killed and five medical personnel were injured in an attack on a city hospital. Additionally, a 91-year-old woman died in an attack on a village in the Kharkiv region. In Donetsk, four individuals were wounded in Russian shelling, while the area around the city of Nikopol was shelled three times.
The ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to have devastating effects on Ukraine’s infrastructure and agricultural industry. The targeting of ports and grain facilities not only inflicts significant damage but also threatens global food security. The international community must respond to these attacks to ensure the safety and stability of Ukraine and to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
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