Russian missiles hit Odesa port, threating grain exports

Russian missiles hit the major port of Odesa in southern Ukraine on Saturday, the Ukrainian military said, dealing a blow to a deal signed on Friday to unblock grain exports from Black Sea ports.

The landmark deal signed by Moscow and Kyiv on Friday is seen as crucial to curbing soaring global food prices, easing a supply crunch by allowing certain exports to be shipped from Black Sea ports including Odesa.

UN officials had said on Friday they hoped the agreement would be operational in a few weeks but it was not yet clear if that would still be possible given Saturday’s strikes.

“The enemy attacked the Odesa sea trade port with Kalibr cruise missiles,” Ukraine’s Operational Command South wrote on the Telegram messaging app. Two missiles hit infrastructure at the port, while another two were shot down by air defence forces, it said. Ukraine’s foreign ministry called on the United Nations and Turkey, which mediated Friday’s deal, to ensure that Russia fulfils its commitments and allows free passage in the grain corridor.

The US ambassador to Kyiv, Bridget Brink, called the strike “outrageous”.

“The Kremlin continues to weaponise food. Russia must be held to account,” Brink wrote on Twitter.