Ukraine’s military has confirmed that Russia fired at least four missiles. Two were shot down by Ukraine’s air defense system, and the other two hit an area around the port. Odesa regional governor Maksym Marchenko said an unspecified number of people were injured in the attack.
Just 24 hours after finalizing a deal to allow the resumption of Ukrainian agricultural exports through the Black Sea, Russia breached its commitments by attacking the historic port from which grain and agricultural exports would again be transported under this arrangement.
Russian missiles have hit infrastructure in Ukraine’s port of Odesa, a day after Russia and Ukraine signed a deal to reopen Black Sea ports, the Ukrainian military has said.
The enemy attacked the Odesa sea trade port with Kalibr cruise missiles; two missiles were shot down by air defence forces; two hit the infrastructure of the port.
Russia attack on Odessa means Russia is with the intention to starve Ukraine of its economic vitality and the world of its food supply through the effective blockade of the Black Sea.
The Kremlin fires at Odessa because they want to continue to weaponize food and draw economic strength away from Ukrainians. One of the goals of Putin is to win the war economically since the seizure of Ukraine’s ports would strangle the country economically at a time when Ukraine most needs the funds to fend off Russia.
Ukraine accounts for 9 percent of the world’s wheat, 15 percent of its maize and 44 percent of global sunflower oil exports. A quarter of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia and Pakistan’s wheat comes from Ukraine.
Odessa still function as ports but Russia has initiated a blockade in order to ensure no grain leaves the country. Commercial shipping has been warned off, sea mines have been deployed in the waters leading to the port and the whole area of the Black Sea is constantly patrolled by Russian warships and fighter aircraft.
The key to this blockade has been Snake Island. A tiny islet 48km (30 miles) off the coast of Ukraine and Romania, it was taken by Russia in the opening days of the war.
