Russia has once again begun targeting Ukraine’s grain infrastructure in the Odesa region, local officials said, using drones to strike storage facilities and ports along the Danube River. The attacks are part of a months-long campaign by Moscow to disrupt Ukraine’s agricultural exports, which are crucial for the global supply of wheat, barley, sunflower oil, and other food products.
The development comes as Ukraine is seeking to reroute its grain exports through the Danube River and road and rail links into Europe, following the breakdown of a key wartime export deal through the Black Sea. The deal, brokered by the UN and Turkey, was torn up by the Kremlin last month, prompting Ukraine to look for alternative routes.
Despite the challenges, the container ship Joseph Schulte was able to set sail from Odesa and head through the Black Sea to the Bosporus, marking the first vessel to depart the port since July 16. The ship, carrying over 30,000 tonnes of cargo, including food products, was going a temporary corridor established by Ukraine for merchant shipping.
Vladimir Putin (Via Vladimir Putin/Twitter)
The corridor, ratified by the International Maritime Organisation, aims to evacuate ships stuck in Ukrainian ports since the outbreak of war. However, the journey is risky due to the presence of sea mines and the threat of attacks by Russian warships. The United States has warned of possible attacks on civilian shipping vessels in the Black Sea.
Meanwhile, on the frontlines, Ukraine claims to have retaken a village in the eastern Donetsk region, part of its counter-offensive aimed at driving a wedge between Russian forces. However, the advance is unlikely to be easy, as Russian defenses are strong and Ukraine is advancing without air support.
In other developments, Russia has shot down three drones over the Kaluga region southwest of Moscow, blaming the attack on Ukraine. The incident is the latest in a series of aerial strikes by Moscow targeting Ukraine’s grain infrastructure. As the conflict continues to unfold, the global supply of grain and other food products remains under threat.
