Russia attacks Ukrainian port of Odessa within a day after signing grain export agreement

A day after Kyiv and Moscow agreed on the export of wheat from Ukraine, Russia bombed the port of Odessa. 

According to Friday’s agreement, Russia promised not to target the port as long as ships loaded with grain were moving here. 

The agreement was described by the United Nations as a ray of hope in the face of several months of the war. 

The Southern Command of the Ukrainian Army announced that on July 23, at dawn, two bombs fell in the port of Odesa, and two more were neutralized by air defence.

Andriy Yermak, the head of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s office, condemned the attack and accused Russia of “systematically creating a food crisis.” 

“The Russian missile is Vladimir Putin’s spit on UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Erdogan, who made enormous efforts to reach an agreement and to which Ukraine is grateful.” – said the spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleh Nikolenko. 

Through the mediation of Turkey and the United Nations, Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement on the export of grain on Friday.

According to the agreement, the ports – of Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny will be controlled by the Ukrainian side. The presence of other ships in the mentioned ports is not considered. The document also does not envisage the easing of sanctions against Russia.

A special coordination centre was also created in Istanbul under the auspices of the United Nations, which will be staffed by representatives of the parties and will supervise the implementation of the initiative. The centre will also create special inspection groups.

The agreement will be valid for 120 days from the date of signing and will be automatically extended unless either party waives it.

Russia and Ukraine are the world’s largest food exporters. Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s ports has disrupted food supply routes to the world, with the West and Ukraine accusing Russia of causing the food crisis. 

Up to 20 million tons of grain are in storage in Odessa and cannot be exported from the Black Sea ports due to the Russian blockade. In addition, Ukraine accuses Russia of deliberately destroying its grain stocks and fields.