Russian missiles hit Ukraine’s Odesa, ‘Putin’s spit in the face’ for grain deal
- Ukraine says Russia attacked the port of Odesa on Saturday, despite export grain plan signed Friday to try to avert famine for millions around world
- Kyiv says that ‘if the reached agreement is not fulfilled, Russia will bear full responsibility for deepening the global food crisis’
A Ukrainian military spokesman said Saturday that Russian missile strikes had targeted grain processing facilities in Odesa the day after the warring parties agreed in a landmark deal – which it was hoped would avert famine for millions – to unblock exports from the southern port.
“The Odesa port was struck specifically where grain shipments were being processed. Two missiles hit exactly the port infrastructure where, obviously, there was grain,” said military spokesman Yuriy Ignat.
Nevertheless, Ukraine continued to prepare to restart grain exports from its Black Sea ports, said Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov. “We continue technical preparations for the launch of exports of agricultural products from our ports,” Kubrakov wrote on Facebook.
The missile strike threatened the deal signed on Friday, just hours before, which would help ease global food shortages caused by the five-month war.
The agreement, signed by Moscow and Kyiv and mediated by the United Nations and Türkiye, would allow certain exports to be shipped from Ukrainian ports, including the hub of Odesa.
“The enemy attacked the Odesa sea trade port with Kalibr cruise missiles,” Ukraine’s Operational Command South wrote on the Telegram app. Two missiles hit port infrastructure, while another two were shot down by air defence forces, it said.