By Samya Kullab | Associated Press
In a continued bombardment, Russia has launched drones and missiles on Ukraine’s southern cities for the third consecutive night, targeting Odesa after a bitter dispute over the termination of a wartime agreement that allowed Ukraine to transport grain through its vital Black Sea port.
The attacks resulted in the deaths of at least two individuals in Odesa, while 19 people, including a child, were injured in the nearby city of Mykolaiv, according to Ukrainian officials.
Seeking “retribution” for an assault that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula, Russia has been targeting Ukraine’s critical grain export infrastructure. Russian officials have attributed the strike to Ukrainian drone boats.
These attacks have caused an increase in food prices in countries already facing hunger. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned that the end of the grain deal would result in greater human suffering, potentially affecting millions of people.
Under the grain deal, ships were guaranteed protection when entering and leaving Ukrainian ports. Another agreement facilitated the transportation of Russian food and fertilizer.
The Russian military justified its strikes on Odesa, a city of “outstanding universal value” recognized by UNESCO, as retaliatory. Odesa’s historic center was added to UNESCO’s list of endangered World Heritage Sites in January.
Although Odesa had previously been subjected to multiple Russian attacks during the war that began in February 2022, it had not experienced the heavy barrages endured by other towns and cities in Ukraine’s south and east.
Residents of Odesa have been shocked by Russia’s sudden focus on their city. Oleksandr Kolodin, a 29-year-old photographer, expressed disbelief at the intensity of the attacks, stating, “I remember the attack on the port last year, but now it feels like it was only 5% compared to what the Russians have launched at us during these past three days.”
Concerns have arisen that Russia’s decision to terminate the grain deal could make Odesa a primary long-term target. Victor, a 29-year-old programmer, referenced the month-long bombardment of Kyiv in May and said, “We saw how they could attack Kyiv for an entire month.”
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed to have targeted “production shops and storage sites for unmanned boats” in Odesa and the nearby city of Chornomorsk. Russian military forces also claimed to have destroyed Ukraine’s fuel infrastructure facilities and ammunition depots in the Mykolaiv area.
There is currently no independent verification of either side’s claims.
During the previous night, intense Russian bombardment damaged critical port infrastructure in Odesa, including grain and oil terminals. The attack resulted in the destruction of at least 60,000 tons of grain.
In response, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry announced that as of Friday, all vessels heading to Russian ports in the Black Sea would be considered as potentially carrying military cargo, leading to higher insurance costs for those ships.
Russia’s Defense Ministry had previously declared wide areas of the Black Sea dangerous for shipping and warned that incoming ships would be seen as carrying weapons, effectively imposing a sea blockade.
Despite the risks, ship owners have not shown less interest in transporting Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea, according to John Stawpert, senior manager of environment and trade for the International Chamber of Shipping.
The European Union’s foreign affairs chief condemned Russia’s targeting of grain storage facilities and expressed concern over the burning of grain.
Germany’s Foreign Affairs Minister also criticized Russia’s actions, stating, “The fact that the Russian president has canceled the grain agreement and is now bombing the port of Odesa is not only another attack on Ukraine, but an attack on the people, on the poorest people in the world. Hundreds of thousands of people, not to say millions, urgently need grain from Ukraine.”
The White House issued a warning about possible Russian attacks on civilian shipping vessels in the Black Sea, which could further drive up grain prices. According to the White House National Security Council, Russia has laid additional sea mines near Ukrainian ports, potentially justifying attacks on civilian ships and blaming Ukraine for them.
Carlos Mera, head of agricultural commodities markets at Rabobank, noted that wheat prices have risen about 17% over the last week due to panic in the market. He emphasized the importance of Ukrainian and Russian wheat for underdeveloped countries, highlighting that with rising prices, people in these countries would have to pay more for wheat, resulting in more expensive bread.
Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian towns and cities during the war. In response, Ukraine’s Western allies have provided assistance in upgrading its air defense systems. The United States recently announced a military aid package that includes funding for National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS) and munitions.
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