Russia has damaged almost 40,000 tonnes of grain destined for Africa, China and Israel in an overnight strike on southern Ukrainian ports near the Danube river, according to Kyiv’s infrastructure minister.
Key points:
- The damaged grain was meant to be distributed to some African countries, China and Israel
- Russia pulled out of the Black Sea grain export deal in July
- The deal has allowed around 33 million tonnes of grain to safely leave Ukrainian ports
“The Russians attacked warehouses and grain elevators,” Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Mr Kubrakov also accused Russia of using Iranian drones to carry out the attack.
“These are the very ports that have become the foundation of global food security today,” he said.
Since pulling out of the landmark Black Sea grain export deal in July, Russia has intensified its attacks on facilities vital for Ukrainian grain shipments.
The deal had allowed around 33 million tonnes of grain to safely leave Ukrainian ports, easing fears of global food shortages.
With the Black Sea route effectively blocked, the formerly obscure Ukrainian ports of Izmail and Reni on the Danube have become the main export routes for Ukrainian agricultural products.
Türkiye calls for peace
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan urged Russian leader Vladimir Putin not to escalate tensions in the war, according to the leader’s office.
In a phone call, Mr Erdogan emphasised the significance of a grain deal that he described as a “bridge for peace.”
He said the failure to re-establish the grain deal “will not benefit anyone” and nations in need will suffer the most.
According to the Kremlin, Mr Putin asked Mr Erdogan to support Russia in exporting its grain to African countries, vulnerable to food shortages.
“The mood for cooperation with Türkiye and other interested states on this issue was expressed,” the Kremlin statement read.
But Paris accused Moscow of “pursuing its own interest at the expense of the most vulnerable” and endangering global food security.
Romanian President Klaus Iohannis also condemned Russia’s repeated attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure along the river, describing them as “unacceptable”.
Drone attacks on Kyiv
In an online post, Head of Ukraine’s presidential office, Andriy Yermak, said Kyiv needed “more air defence” to repel Russian attacks.
In Kyiv, more than 10 Russian drones were downed during an overnight strike that left several floors of a glass high-rise damaged, the city’s military administration said.
“Groups of drones entered Kyiv simultaneously from several directions,” said Sergiy Popko, head of the administration.
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Mr Popko said Russia had used a barrage of Iranian-made drones, with debris hitting several areas.
Emergency services were sent to the Golosiivsky district after “parts of a drone fell on a playground” and a fire broke out in a non-residential building.
Earlier, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said the attack on the capital had damaged several areas, including the busy Solomyansky district.
This comes a day after Russia said it shot down a wave of Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow and vessels in the Black Sea.
A skyscraper in Moscow’s business district which houses government offices was struck for the second time in a few days.
On Wednesday, Russia said it had launched naval drills in the Baltic Sea, involving 30 warships and boats, amid rising tensions with European countries over the Ukraine conflict.
Russia’s defence ministry said its navy will use the drills to practice how to protect sea lanes, transport
AFP