Ukraine war

Ukraine claims Russian missiles bombed Black Sea port

A damaged building after a rocket attack in the Odesa area. (Photo: EPA)

According to the Ukrainian military, Russian missiles have struck the port of Odesa today.

The missiles targeted infrastructure a day after the two warring nations struck an agreement to reopen Black Sea ports for grain exports.

"The enemy attacked the port of Odessa with Kalibr cruise missiles; two were shot down by air defense forces, and two struck the port's infrastructure," Operational Command South stated on the Telegram messaging app.

Russia and Ukraine inked a historic agreement in Istanbul on Friday to unlock Ukrainian Black Sea ports so that millions of tonnes of food trapped in Ukrainian silos since Russia's invasion can be exported.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokeswoman stated that the strike put into question commitments and pledges made by Russia in Istanbul to the United Nations and Turkey, which mediated the pact.

Ukraine's foreign ministry issued a statement that urged the United Nations and Turkey to ensure that Russia meets its obligations under the agreement for a secure corridor for grain exports from Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

The Russian Ministry of Defense did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the attack.

Bridget Brink, the U.S. ambassador in Kyiv, described the strike as "outrageous."

"Russia attacks the port city of Odessa less than twenty-four hours after signing a deal to enable agricultural exports. The Kremlin persists in weaponizing food. Russia must be held accountable," she tweeted.

UN secretary general Antonio Guterres and Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan oversaw the signing of an agreement that would allow Ukraine to resume its shipments and Russia to export grain and fertilizers, potentially ending a deadlock that has jeopardized the food security of the world.

President Erdogan stated, following the agreement's signing in Istanbul, that it will "prevent billions of people from facing famine."

He added that he believed the agreement would "revive the peace process."

Publish : 2022-07-23 20:20:00

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