Russian drone attacks on Wednesday resulted in significant damage to a key Ukrainian port city near the NATO member Romania’s border, leading to a massive fire that severely impacted Ukrainian grain exports after the termination of a deal with Russia, which had facilitated shipments to global markets.
In retaliation for leaving the export deal, Russia has relentlessly targeted Ukraine’s ports over the past two weeks. The city of Izmail, situated on the Danube River forming part of the Ukraine-Romania border, bore the brunt of these strikes.
Fishermen in Romania captured a video showing explosions and a large fire in the distance on the Danube, though the authenticity of the footage is yet to be verified. In the face of these attacks, Ukraine’s air force intercepted 23 Shahed drones, most of them near Odesa and Kyiv, with all 10 drones directed at Kyiv successfully intercepted.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed his concerns on Telegram, emphasizing the devastating impact of these attacks on ports, grain facilities, and global food security. The consequences were immediately evident as wheat prices surged by 3% and corn prices rose by nearly 2% on the same day.
Ukraine’s position as a major supplier of wheat, corn, vegetable oil, and other agricultural products to regions grappling with high food prices and hunger, such as the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia, highlights the gravity of the situation.
Previously, Russia and Ukraine had reached an agreement brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, reopening three Ukrainian Black Sea ports and providing assurances against attacks on ships entering these ports. However, Russia opted not to renew the agreement, citing delays in its own exports.
In an attempt to restore the Black Sea initiative for exporting Ukrainian grain, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Russia’s Vladimir Putin, referring to the deal as a “bridge of peace.” While the two leaders agreed on Putin visiting Turkey, specific dates were not mentioned.
Amid the ongoing conflict, civilians continue to suffer. Shelling in the city of Kherson caused injuries to two civilians, and a city hospital in Kherson was attacked, resulting in the death of a doctor and injuring five medical personnel. Tragically, a 91-year-old woman lost her life in an attack on a village in the Kharkiv region, while four individuals were wounded due to Russian shelling in the eastern region of Donetsk.
The situation remains volatile and uncertain, with the international community called upon to respond to these acts of aggression that have far-reaching consequences on food security and regional stability.
