Less than 24 hours after Russia and Ukraine signed an agreement to reopen Black Sea ports to resume grain exports, a series of missiles were fired at the port of Odesa.
“The enemy attacked the commercial seaport of Odesa with Kalibr cruise missiles,” Ukraine’s military said, adding that two were shot down while two others hit “port infrastructure.”
Russia’s defense ministry has not claimed responsibility for the attacks, which followed the signing of a landmark agreement aimed at averting an international food crisis.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry said the strikes were a “spit in the face” of Turkey and the United Nations, which less than a day earlier had negotiated the deal in Istanbul.
Read more: The Disappearing Ships: Russia’s Great Grain Loot
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
6:40 Russia and Ukraine sign a grain agreement
Images of the attacks shared on social media showed at least one seafront building on fire near a container ship with thick black smoke billowing from the flames.
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink tweeted: “Intriguing. Russia attacks port city of Odesa less than 24 hours after signing deal to allow agricultural export shipments. Kremlin continues to weaponize food . Russia must be held accountable.”
UN Secretary-General Antonia Guterres – who also signed the agreement to open exports from the ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne at a ceremony in Istanbul – condemned the strikes “unequivocally” according to a UN spokesman. UN
“These products are desperately needed to address the global food crisis and alleviate the suffering of millions of people in need around the world. Full implementation by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative,” added the communicated
Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas tweeted: “This is all you need to know about the deals with Russia.”
Image: Grain is one of Ukraine’s predominant maritime exports. File photo
The strikes follow a blockade of Ukrainian ports by the Russian Black Sea Fleet, which has cut off supplies of grain and other food products worldwide and sent global prices soaring.
When he signed the deal, Guterres said it would benefit developing countries “on the brink of bankruptcy and the most vulnerable people on the brink of starvation.”
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the deal would reduce global food inflation as the war has affected “all of humanity”.
Use the Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
0:48 What is the importance of the grain deal?
Here’s a breakdown of the historic deal:
• Goal: The agreement aims to help prevent hunger by injecting more wheat, sunflower oil, fertilizers and other products into world markets• Time frame: The agreement is valid for 120 days and the United Nations hopes that be renewed if the war is not over. by then• Safe Passage: The agreement guarantees safe passage in and out of Odesa and two other Ukrainian ports in what the official called a “de facto ceasefire” for ships and facilities decks• Joint Coordination Center (JCC) – The JCC in Istanbul will monitor all ship movements and inspections, and decide if a ship is diverting agreed channels in the Black Sea• Inspections – In response to Russian concerns about ships delivering weapons in Ukraine, all returning ships will be inspected at a Turkish port• Insurance – To allay the concerns of ship insurers, the United Nations spent more than two months negotiating with the industry to ensure the plan was commercially viable.
The deal and strikes come as Russia is “on the brink of exhaustion” in Ukraine, according to the head of MI6.
Richard Moore said President Vladimir Putin’s soldiers “will have to hold back” as they struggle to find more troops and equipment to send to the front in eastern Ukraine in the coming weeks.
This will allow the Ukrainian military to “strike back” in what the UK’s spymaster said is a “winnable war”.