Russia strikes Ukraine's Danube port, sending global grain prices higher
Aug 03, 2023
Moscow [Russia], August 3: Russia attacked Ukraine's grain ports in the early hours of Wednesday, including an inland port across the Danube River from Romania, sending global food prices soaring as Moscow ramps up its use of force to reimpose a blockade of Ukrainian exports.
Ukraine's defence ministry said a grain silo was damaged in the Danube port of Izmail in the Odesa region: "Ukrainian grain has the potential to feed millions of people worldwide," the ministry wrote on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
Russia attacked Ukraine's grain ports in the early hours of Wednesday, including an inland port across the Danube River from Romania, sending global food prices soaring as Moscow ramps up its use of force to reimpose a blockade of Ukrainian exports.
Ukraine's defence ministry said a grain silo was damaged in the Danube port of Izmail in the Odesa region: "Ukrainian grain has the potential to feed millions of people worldwide," the ministry wrote on messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
There were no reports of casualties, Odesa region governor OlehKiper wrote in a post on the Telegram messaging app. Kiper posted several photos showing firefighting crews trying to put out a fire in a blighted high-rise building next to a river.
"Unfortunately, there are damages," President VolodymyrZelenskiy said on Telegram.
"The most significant ones are in the south of the country. Russian terrorists have once again attacked ports, grain, global food security."
An industrial source also confirmed Izmail was the main target of the attack, describing the level of damage as "serious".
Ukraine's prosecutor's office released pictures showing a war crimes investigator outside a ruined building, and at least two damaged silos with wheat tumbling out.
The port, across the river from NATO-member Romania, has served as the main alternative route out of Ukraine for grain exports since Russia reimposed its de facto blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports in mid-July.
Source: Fijian Broadcasting Cooperation
