kyiv. Several Russian drone attacks on Wednesday caused damage to Ukraine’s port infrastructure on the Danube, crucial for the transit of grain after the end of an export agreement with Russia.
kyiv, the capital, was also targeted by explosive devices, but all were shot down, according to Ukrainian authorities.
Since Russia ended an agreement in July that allowed Kiev to export despite the war, two small Ukrainian river ports bordering Romania, Reni and Izmail, in the Odessa region, have become the main exit route for products. Ukrainian agricultural.
Since then, Moscow has multiplied attacks against Ukrainian port infrastructure.
Wednesday’s Shahed-type Iranian-made drones targeted the southern Odessa region, the Ukrainian military said on Telegram, without specifying the location, but explaining that “the obvious target of the enemy was the port and industrial infrastructure of the region”.
For his part, the Ukrainian attorney general explained in a statement that “port facilities and industrial infrastructure on the Danube” were affected, damaging an elevator, several silos, cargo terminal tanks, warehouses, and administrative premises.
The Ukrainian authorities specified that these attacks “damaged” almost 40 thousand tons of grains destined for export.
No casualties were reported despite the attacks that caused a fire, the region’s governor, Oleg Kiper, said on Telegram.
The Ukrainian authorities, who give very little information and do not allow access to these ports because they are strategic, did not clearly say which places were affected.
However, the Izmail prosecutor’s office is in charge of the investigation, which seems to indicate that the destruction took place in this district. The port of Reni was also attacked on July 24 by Russia.
“unacceptable”
The bombardments in this area began after the end of the agreement that, under the auspices of the UN and Turkey, had allowed the export of 33 million tons of grains and oilseeds from the Ukraine, despite the Russian invasion.
In this regard, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in a phone call that “no measures should be taken to increase tensions in the war between Russia and Ukraine.”
He also stressed the importance of the deal, which he sees as a “bridge for peace,” according to a summary of the conversation from the Turkish leader’s office.
In the same call, Putin asked Erdogan to help Russia export grain to “countries most in need” due to food shortages.
“There is a desire to cooperate in this area with Turkey,” the Kremlin said in a statement on Wednesday summarizing the conversation.
Russia also said on Wednesday that it had begun military exercises in the Baltic Sea, involving some 30 warships. During the exercises, the navy will practice protecting sea lanes, transporting troops and military cargo, and defending the coast, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.
From Romania, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis denounced on Twitter, now known as X, that “Russia’s continued attacks against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on the Danube” near his country “are unacceptable.”
His Ukrainian counterpart, Volodimyr Zelensky, said that “the world must react” and denounced “Russian terrorists” who are attacking “again ports, cereals and world food security.”
France accused Russia on Wednesday of “deliberately” putting world food security at risk by “destroying essential infrastructure.”
The Pope called from Lisbon for Europe to be a “bridge builder” for peace in Ukraine.
Prior to the Danube terminals, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian Black Sea port infrastructure several times in recent weeks, particularly Odessa, from where Ukrainian grain was exported.
On the other hand, kyiv was also the target of a drone attack on Wednesday. According to the head of the capital’s military administration, Sergiy Popko, when several Shahed drones simultaneously penetrated the sky over the city from various directions.
“All the targets, more than ten drones, were detected and destroyed in time,” he said, although remains of the devices fell in three districts without causing deaths or injuries.
A Russian drone strike has hit the main Ukrainian river port located on the Danube river, facing Romania, as Moscow steps up its efforts to block shipments of Ukrainian grain. Via Graphic News.
