Russia attacks Ukrainian grain for the fourth day and practices the seizure of ships

Russia struck for the fourth day in a row at Ukrainian food export facilities and carried out the seizure of ships in the Black Sea on Friday, in an escalation of what Western leaders see as an attempt to shake off sanctions by threatening a world food crisis.

The direct attacks on Ukrainian grain, a linchpin of the global food chain, came after Kiev vowed to defy a Russian naval blockade of its grain export ports following Moscow’s withdrawal this week from a UN-brokered safe shipping corridor deal.

“Unfortunately, the grain terminals of an agricultural company in the Odessa region were attacked. The enemy destroyed 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley”, said the regional governor, Oleh Kiper, on the Telegram messaging application.

Photographs released by the Emergencies Ministry showed a fire between battered metal buildings that appeared to be warehouses, and a badly damaged firefighting vehicle. Two people were wounded, he said, while authorities reported seven killed in Russian airstrikes in other parts of Ukraine.

Moscow has described the attacks as revenge by a Ukrainian attack on a Russian-built bridge to Crimea, the Ukrainian Black Sea peninsula seized by Moscow in 2014.

Russia has said it will consider all ships headed for Ukrainian waters capable of carrying weapons, in what Washington called a sign it could target civilian shipping. kyiv responded by issuing a similar warning about ships heading to Russia.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated on Friday that its Black Sea Fleet had practiced firing rockets at “floating targets” and the detention of ships. Moscow’s ambassador in Washington denied any plans to attack ships.

Attacks on grain export infrastructure and a perceived threat to shipping sent benchmark Chicago wheat futures higher on Friday, posting their biggest weekly rise since the February 2022 invasion, amid supply worries from traders.

The UN Security Council was scheduled to meet later to discuss the “humanitarian consequences” of Russia’s withdrawal from the safe corridor agreement, which aid groups say is vital to stave off starvation in poor countries.

Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan, a co-sponsor of the deal with the UN, said he hoped planned talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin could lead to the initiative’s reinstatement.

The end of the agreement could lead to a rise in world food prices, shortages in some regions and potentially new waves of migration, Erdogan told reporters on a return flight from a trip to the Persian Gulf countries and northern Cyprus.

The West should listen to some of Russia’s demands, he said. “We are aware that President Putin also has certain expectations from Western countries, and it is crucial that these countries take action on this.”

Moscow says it will not participate in the year-long grain deal unless conditions for its own sales of food and fertilizer improve.

Western leaders have accused Russia of trying to ease sanctions imposed for its invasion of Ukraine, which already exempt Russian food exports. Russian grain has flowed freely across the Black Sea to the market throughout the conflict, and traders say Russia is dumping wheat on the market.

A Polish broadcaster said on Friday that a military reconnaissance drone of unknown origin had crashed near a base in southwestern Poland earlier this week.

NATO member Poland has been reinforcing its border with Belarus, where Russia’s Wagner mercenary force has set up shop after a failed mutiny last month. Germany declared that the Alliance was ready to help Poland defend its eastern flank.

Belarus has stated that Wagner fighters are training their troops near the Polish border. Residents in Poland near the border said Thursday they could hear gunshots and helicopters.

Source: Reuters