Ukraine denounces Russian attack on key port for grain export

Lviv, Ukraine, Jul 23 (EFE).- Ukrainian authorities denounced on Saturday a Russian attack on the Black Sea Odesa port, a crucial water gate for grain export.

“The enemy struck the Odesa Commercial Sea Port with Kalibar-type cruise missiles,” the Ukrinform website cited local authorities as saying. “Two missiles were shot down by air defense forces. Two hit the infrastructure facilities of the port”.

The alleged attack comes one day after Ukraine and Russia signed a landmark deal, backed by Turkey and the United Nations, to resume grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports in a bid to alleviate the global food crisis triggered by the Russian aggression.

“It took less than 24 hours for Russia to launch a missile attack on Odesa’s port, breaking its promises and undermining its commitments before the UN and Türkiye under the Istanbul agreement,” the Ukrainian foreign ministry’s spokesperson Oleg Nikolenko wrote on Twitter.

“In case of non-fulfillment, Russia will bear full responsibility for global food crisis,” he added. EFE

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