In the aftermath of a Russian strike against the port of Izmail, the Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, draws a worrying assessment of the extent of the destruction caused by the recent bombardments in Ukraine: “In total, 270,000 tons of cereals were destroyed during the month of attacks on ports,” the minister said Wednesday, August 23, on Facebook, denouncing strikes “against countries in Africa and Asia, which are already short of food.”
These large-scale Russian bombardments, eight in number, according to the minister, began after Russia left in July an agreement which allowed Ukraine to export its agricultural production, essential to world food security.
During the night of Tuesday to Wednesday, the Russian army carried out a new strike against the port of Izmail located on the Danube, which flows into the Black Sea, where Moscow’s forces are largely present: “13,000 tons of cereals have been destroyed,” Mr. Kubrakov lamented. “Several grain terminals and private warehouses were damaged, as well as freight infrastructure,” the minister detailed.
On Tuesday, Russia claimed to have “destroyed” two Ukrainian military vessels in the Black Sea, the latest maritime skirmishes since it slammed the door in mid-July of the agreement to export Ukrainian cereals.
Last week, Kiev had organized a sea lane for the Joseph Schulte, a cargo ship that has since joined Turkey, despite Russian threats to target any boats leaving or arriving at ports under Kiev control. Prior to this, Russia had fired warning shots on August 13 against a cargo ship heading for the port of Izmail.
