The grain corridor — a Black Sea shipping route that handles 90% of Ukraine’s agricultural exports — has not been officially closed, but it is under enormous strain as Russia steps up missile attacks on Odesa Oblast, Oleh Khomenko, CEO of the Ukrainian Agribusiness Club (UCAB), told the Kyiv Independent on July 24.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said that 300,000 families in Odesa lost power due to the attacks.
The Syrian Foreign Ministry says the agreement "opens the way for a new phase in Syrian-Russian relations" following Moscow's support of deposed former President Bashar al-Assad.
The demonstrations come amid a surge in physical and verbal assaults against Ukrainians in Poland in recent months, fueled by a crisis in diplomatic relations between the neighboring countries.
In Serbia, Zelensky confirmed that Kyiv does not officially recognize Kosovo's independence. Officials in Kosovo said his stance was "deeply disappointing" given the country's support for Ukraine.
Key developments on Aug. 8-9: * Ukrainian-made ballistic missiles could hit Russia in the fall, Zelensky says * Another overnight Russian attack on Kyiv and Kyiv Oblast kills 4, including 3-year-old child * Kyiv strikes Russian missile system used in attack the previous day, Madyar says * Ukraine buys 70 ATACMS missiles, other US weapons from Turkey in major defense package * Ukraine says it struck 12 Russian shadow fleet vessels in Black Sea and Sea of Azov President Volodymyr Zelensky c
"Even wars have rules. One of those is that health must be protected," World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said.
The Kyiv Independent’s Business Desk covers the biggest news in business, economics, and tech from Ukraine, as well as global developments that shape the economy of the region.
A Belgian factory continues to operate in Russia's special economic zone known as a key defense production site despite EU requirements to leave the zone by late January 2026.
