Russia shells Odessa port despite grain deal

A damaged building in Odessa

According to Ukrainian sources, the city’s port was hit by Russian missiles.

(Photo: IMAGO/GlobalImagens)

Kyiv A day after the agreement on the export of Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, Russia fired rockets at the port of Odessa, according to sources in Kyiv. “Yesterday, the export by sea was agreed, and today the Russians are attacking the port of Odessa,” said the head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, on Saturday. Russia bombard the port city. According to the Ukrainian military, two Russian missiles were intercepted by air defenses and two more hit the commercial port.

In the agreement on Friday, Russia pledged to let the ships sail through a sea corridor and not to fire at them. The ports involved should not be attacked either.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres condemned the rocket fire at the port. Guterres said Friday that all parties at the global level made a clear commitment to ensure the safe export of Ukrainian grain. “Full implementation by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative,” he said, according to the statement. Kyiv blames Russia for the attack.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell tweeted: “Hiting a key grain export target a day after the signing of the Istanbul Accords is particularly reprehensible and demonstrates once again Russia’s total disregard for international law and obligations.”

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The rocket fire cast doubt on the agreement signed in Istanbul on Friday to export millions of tons of grain from Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko said in Kyiv. Russian President Vladimir Putin “spits” his missiles in the face of UN Secretary-General António Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. The two went to great lengths to reach the agreement.

Ukraine is calling on the United Nations and Turkey to urge Russia to comply with the deal, Nikolenko said. If the agreement is not implemented, Russia will bear responsibility for the global food crisis. Ukraine plans to export around 20 million tons of grain.

Reactions from Germany

Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock also sharply condemned the Russian attack and questioned the credibility of Russian commitments. “The cowardly rocket attacks on the port of Odessa show that the signature of the Russian leadership currently counts for little,” Baerbock told the Reuters news agency on Saturday.

The millions of people around the world who are hitting Russia hard with its “grain war” hope that Russia will keep its promises and allow grain to be transported across the Black Sea. “But the attack also shows us that we must continue to work flat out on alternatives,” added the Green politician, alluding to the export of Ukrainian grain via ports in Romania, for example.

Bundestag Vice President Katrin Göring-Eckardt (Greens) wrote about the shelling on Twitter: “It’s so terrible. Yesterday so much hope because of the deal. Attacks on #Odesa today. Yesterday I was in the #Hafen, walked through the city, talked to so many, congratulated a wedding couple. Hope so much everyone is doing well. What is the signature still worth?”

Agriculture Minister Cem Özdemir (Greens) also commented on Twitter: “Yesterday: Erdogan mediates #graindeal with Putin. Today: (Russian) missiles on #Odessa. Would be good & important if grain gets out across the Black Sea. But see it like my (Ukrainian) counterpart Mykola Solskyj: need permanent alternative route for Ukrainian grain.”

The US ambassador in Kyiv considers the attack on Odessa outrageous and demands that Russia be held accountable. “The Kremlin continues to weaponize staple foods,” Bridget Brink tweeted, referring to the deal between Russia, Ukraine and Turkey to resume grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

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