Russian attacks on Ukraine’s port areas continued on Thursday, local officials said, even as Moscow warned against shipping black sea port of ukraine Can be considered a military target.
As concerns grew over Russia pulling out of a deal that protected global shipments of Ukrainian grain, officials in Mykolaiv and Odesa regions reported about 20 people wounded in the attacks.
As Russia’s exit a year ago threatens to cripple global food supplies, Ukraine said on Wednesday it was setting up a temporary shipping route via neighboring Romania. Black Sea Country.
“It aims to facilitate the unblocking of international shipping in the northwestern part of the Black Sea,” Vasyl Shkurakov, Ukraine’s acting minister of communities, regions and infrastructure development, said in a letter to the UN’s International Shipping Organization.
Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s top grain exporters. US wheat futures jumped 8.5% on Wednesday, the biggest daily gain since Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion of its neighbor.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that flag states of ships headed to Ukrainian ports would be considered parties to the conflict on the side of Ukraine.
Zelensky Condemnation of ‘Russian terror’
Russia attacked the Odessa region on the night of Monday and Tuesday, after the last ship left Ukraine on Sunday under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The three ports in the region were the only ports operating in Ukraine under the grain agreement.
Ukrainian officials said a grain terminal and an industrial facility, warehouses, shopping malls, residential and administrative buildings and cars were damaged on Tuesday night.
Ukraine’s Southern Military Command said Russia had used supersonic missiles, including Kh-22s designed to destroy the aircraft carrier, to attack Odessa’s port infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Wednesday that “about one million tons of food were stored in the ports that were attacked.” “This is exactly the amount that should have already been delivered to consumer countries in Africa and Asia.
“Tonight the most damaged terminal from Russian terror held 60,000 tons of agricultural products that were to be shipped to China,” Zelensky said.
At least 18 people were wounded in an attack on the port city of Mykolaiv on Thursday morning, the regional governor said, while an Odessa official said two people had been hospitalized after suffering fires caused by the attack.
Reuters could not independently verify the Ukrainian claims.
The White House National said US officials have information that Russia has laid additional sea mines en route to Ukrainian ports in what appears to be a “coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea and to shift the blame for these attacks on Ukraine”. Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge.
Russia did not immediately comment on the US claim.
Putin presses demands
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Western countries of “distorting” the grain deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.
Russia’s exit from the accord risks worsening global food insecurity and could lead to higher food prices, especially in poorer countries, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.
Putin said Russia would immediately return to the accord if Moscow’s conditions were met, which would ease curbs on food and fertilizer exports. Western countries call this an attempt to take advantage of food supplies to weaken financial sanctions, which still allow Russia to sell food.
Fighting continued on Wednesday in eastern and southern Ukraine, away from the ports, where Kiev’s counteroffensive is trying to recapture territory held by Russian forces. The Russians have stormed the heavily fortified front line.
In Washington, the Pentagon announced additional security assistance for Ukraine, totaling nearly $1.3 billion, with a package including air defense capabilities and munitions.
In Brussels, EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss on Thursday a proposal for Ukraine to spend 20 billion euros ($22 billion) over four years on arms, ammunition and other military aid.
As concerns grew over Russia pulling out of a deal that protected global shipments of Ukrainian grain, officials in Mykolaiv and Odesa regions reported about 20 people wounded in the attacks.
As Russia’s exit a year ago threatens to cripple global food supplies, Ukraine said on Wednesday it was setting up a temporary shipping route via neighboring Romania. Black Sea Country.
“It aims to facilitate the unblocking of international shipping in the northwestern part of the Black Sea,” Vasyl Shkurakov, Ukraine’s acting minister of communities, regions and infrastructure development, said in a letter to the UN’s International Shipping Organization.
Ukraine and Russia are among the world’s top grain exporters. US wheat futures jumped 8.5% on Wednesday, the biggest daily gain since Russia’s February 24, 2022 invasion of its neighbor.
Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that flag states of ships headed to Ukrainian ports would be considered parties to the conflict on the side of Ukraine.
Zelensky Condemnation of ‘Russian terror’
Russia attacked the Odessa region on the night of Monday and Tuesday, after the last ship left Ukraine on Sunday under the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The three ports in the region were the only ports operating in Ukraine under the grain agreement.
Ukrainian officials said a grain terminal and an industrial facility, warehouses, shopping malls, residential and administrative buildings and cars were damaged on Tuesday night.
Ukraine’s Southern Military Command said Russia had used supersonic missiles, including Kh-22s designed to destroy the aircraft carrier, to attack Odessa’s port infrastructure.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his nightly address on Wednesday that “about one million tons of food were stored in the ports that were attacked.” “This is exactly the amount that should have already been delivered to consumer countries in Africa and Asia.
“Tonight the most damaged terminal from Russian terror held 60,000 tons of agricultural products that were to be shipped to China,” Zelensky said.
At least 18 people were wounded in an attack on the port city of Mykolaiv on Thursday morning, the regional governor said, while an Odessa official said two people had been hospitalized after suffering fires caused by the attack.
Reuters could not independently verify the Ukrainian claims.
The White House National said US officials have information that Russia has laid additional sea mines en route to Ukrainian ports in what appears to be a “coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian vessels in the Black Sea and to shift the blame for these attacks on Ukraine”. Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge.
Russia did not immediately comment on the US claim.
Putin presses demands
Russian President Vladimir Putin accused Western countries of “distorting” the grain deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey.
Russia’s exit from the accord risks worsening global food insecurity and could lead to higher food prices, especially in poorer countries, the International Monetary Fund said on Wednesday.
Putin said Russia would immediately return to the accord if Moscow’s conditions were met, which would ease curbs on food and fertilizer exports. Western countries call this an attempt to take advantage of food supplies to weaken financial sanctions, which still allow Russia to sell food.
Fighting continued on Wednesday in eastern and southern Ukraine, away from the ports, where Kiev’s counteroffensive is trying to recapture territory held by Russian forces. The Russians have stormed the heavily fortified front line.
In Washington, the Pentagon announced additional security assistance for Ukraine, totaling nearly $1.3 billion, with a package including air defense capabilities and munitions.
In Brussels, EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss on Thursday a proposal for Ukraine to spend 20 billion euros ($22 billion) over four years on arms, ammunition and other military aid.