Russia on Monday suspended its participation in a grain deal that had allowed exports of Ukrainian grain.
Washington:
The White House warned on Wednesday that Russia could expand targeting of Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks against civilian shipping in the Black Sea.
White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said US officials have information that Russia has laid additional sea mines en route to Ukrainian ports.
“We believe this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea and to shift the blame for these attacks on Ukraine,” he added.
Hodge said that Russia had announced that all vessels bound for Ukrainian ports in Black Sea waters would be considered potential carriers of military cargo and that US information indicated that Russia had placed additional maritime vessels en route to Ukrainian ports. Mines have been laid.
“In addition to this coordinated effort in the Black Sea, we have already seen Russia target Ukraine’s grain export ports in Odessa with missiles and drones on July 18 and 19, resulting in damage to agricultural infrastructure and 60,000 tons of grain,” he said. destroyed.”
Ukraine accused Russia on Wednesday of damaging grain export infrastructure in “hellish” nighttime attacks focused on two of its Black Sea ports, and vowed not to be afraid to work to keep grain exports out of them.
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