ODESSA: Russia has repeatedly fired missiles and drones at Ukrainian ports. Photo: Libkos / AP / NTB
The Kremlin continues its war against the critical grain.
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On the night of Wednesday, 40,000 tons of grain were destroyed during an attack that destroyed port infrastructure in Odesa, in the south of Ukraine.
The grain was intended for export to several African countries, China and Israel.
After Russia withdrew from the UN-negotiated agreement on the safe export of Ukrainian grain via the Black Sea, the Russians have stepped up their attacks on Ukraine’s ports and infrastructure.
The Russian missiles have also aimed directly at Ukrainian grain stores.
180,000 tons of grain crops were destroyed by Russian airstrikes in the period from July 17 to 26, according to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
THE ATTACK: A farm storage building after a Russian attack in Odesa region, Ukraine, Friday 21 July 2023. Photo: Libkos / AP / NTB
During the night to Wednesday, another 40,000 tonnes were destroyed.
According to Reuters Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Wednesday that Russia’s attack on port infrastructure showed that Moscow was intent on creating a crisis in food markets, prices and supplies.
– Moscow is waging a battle for a global catastrophe. In their madness they need world food markets to collapse, they need a price crisis, they need supply disruptions.
According to Reuters, the prosecutor’s office in Ukraine confirms that they are investigating the recent attacks on grain warehouses as war crimes.
President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyj Photo: Kyrre Lien / VG
Big consequences
Ukraine is a major exporter and key supplier of grain to the world market.
Earlier this summer, the very important grain agreement expired.
The grain agreement secured the export of grain from Ukraine to the rest of the world, and was signed after Russia, in the first phase of the war, blocked Ukraine’s ports and locked up around 20 million tons of grain.
The blockade led to major consequences for the food supply to various developing countries.
Since the agreement expired, the Kremlin has said that the agreement will not be extended, as long as the demands from Russia are not met.
Among other things, Russia is demanding that Russian banks gain access to the international Swift system, the Swift system, the Swift system connects over 11,000 banks, financial institutions and other companies worldwide. The system helps banks to send money to each other across national borders. for the grain agreement to be extended.
Political and economic
Russia and Ukraine expert Jakub M. Godzimirski at NUPI says that Russia has both a political and an economic motivation behind destroying Ukrainian grain and infrastructure.
– The political dimension is about the fact that by inflicting major damage on Ukrainian grain stores and ports, Russia can limit Ukraine’s ability to continue the war.
The expert adds that what is now happening on the ground in Ukraine will probably affect grain production in the future, in that, among other things, Ukrainian grain producers will have problems sowing.
Russia and Ukraine expert Jakub M. Godzimirski Photo: Thomas Andreassen / VG
– Politically, grain is also a link. For Ukraine, grain is a way to strengthen international ties with countries that depend on these supplies to meet their food needs, says Godzimirski.
– The second dimension is financial. Grain is an important source of income for the Ukrainian state. Thus, grain is important for the Ukrainian economy. The Kremlin wants to weaken Ukraine’s ability to make money. And Ukraine needs money to continue the war.
– It is rather cynical warfare?
– The Kremlin does not care so much if they are cynical, they use all the instruments they have to win this war.
The expert adds that Russia is also destroying itself.
– But attacks on grain stores can also destroy Russia’s reputation in countries that depend on grain from Ukraine, because it is difficult to justify it purely militarily.
GRAIN AGREEMENT: The agreement which ensured the safe transport of grain and foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports expired on 17 July. During the nine days from July 17 to 26, Russian attacks destroyed 180,000 tons of Ukrainian grain. Photo: Kyrre Lien / VG
Grain as a press agent
KremlinKremlThe Russian political leadership has repeatedly promised to send 25,000 to 50,000 tonnes of grain for free to six African countries over the next three to four months – a fraction of the Ukrainian grain it has destroyed.
– Russia will thus fill the void in markets where Ukrainian grain was previously supplied, says Godzimirski.
The attacks on Ukrainian grain and the disruption of grain shipments are causing grain prices to fluctuate.
– When parts of the export disappear, an imbalance between supply and demand occurs and prices rise, which makes the grain too expensive for those who need it to meet their food needs.
– Is it a grain crisis?
– Not yet, but prices may go up again and Ukrainian farmers may have problems producing as much grain as before the war, concludes Godzimirski
ROCKET: Part of an exploded rocket is seen at the damaged grain terminal of an agricultural enterprise in the Odesa region, southern Ukraine, July 21, 2023. Photo: IGOR TKACHENKO / EPA / NTBPublished:
Published: 03.08.23 at 16:59
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2023-08-03 14:59:06
#Russian #attacks #tonnes #grain #destroyed
