Ukraine: Aftermath of Russian missile attacks on Odesa
The UK has joined world food organisations in condemning Russia for stepping up drone attacks on Ukraine’s vital grain storage.
Rishi Sunak said yesterday he was “appalled” by strikes on the southern port of Odesa and sites on the Danube – one just yards from the border with Nato member Romania.
The Prime Minister rang President Volodymr Zelensky to underline efforts to restart the Black Sea grain deal recently ended by Moscow. He told Ukraine’s leader the UK was combining with Turkey to try and revive the initiative.
A Downing Street spokeswoman said: “The leaders agreed on the importance of ensuring grain was able to be exported from Ukraine. The Prime Minister said the UK was working closely with Turkey on restoring the grain deal and we would continue to use our role as chair of the UN Security Council to further condemn Russia.”
Mr Sunak said that “Russia was increasingly looking to target merchant vessels in the Black Sea area”.
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Mr Zelensky said they spoke about “Russia’s daily attempts to destroy Odesa’s historic centre and port”. He added: “We must defend Odesa.
“Ukraine urgently needs to strengthen its air defence to protect its historical heritage and continue the Black Sea grain initiative.”
The deal had safeguarded maritime supplies of grain from Ukraine, the seventh-largest wheat exporter.
But the move by Russia’s President Vladimir Putin to target grain once again was widely attacked by world food groups. Officials in Ukraine said that more than 60,000 tons were destroyed last week.
The price of grain soared by 8 percent within a day of Russia abandoning the agreement and increasing attacks have added to volatility in the market.
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Charities yesterday hit out at the action.
Jean-Michel Grand, executive director of Action Against Hunger UK, said: “It is deeply concerning to see hunger used as a tool in geopolitical conflicts, at a time when ensuring access to nutritious food should be a global priority.”
Cindy McCain, head of the World Food Programme, said unless Russia abided by the deal parts of the globe faced starvation.
Ukraine had carried on sending out millions of tons of grain despite Russia’s invasion and Ms McCain said: “They must renew the deal. We can’t possibly feed the region let alone the world unless they do.”
Britain warned that Moscow might target other vessels in the Black Sea Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: “Russia may escalate its campaign to destroy Ukraine’s food exports by targeting civilian ships.
“We will highlight this unconscionable behaviour at the United Nations Security Council. Russia should stop holding global food supplies hostage and return to the deal.”
The latest attack destroyed a grain depot in Odesa, which has come under almost nightly attack. Its governor Oleh Kiper, who also covers the Danube ports of Reni and Izmail, said Russia used 15 Iranian drones to wipe out a grain hangar and storage tanks. Local officials said three warehouses were bombed too.
Four people were injured, one seriously, while three drones were destroyed by air defences
Romania President Klaus Iohannis said the “very close” attack posed “serious risks to the security in the Black Sea.” He added: “It also affects further [Ukraine] grain transit and thus the global food security.”
The Danube has grown as an export channel since Russia invaded Ukraine in February last year, with two million tons of grain sent abroad via the river in the past year compared with 600,000 in the previous 12 months.
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