Three years of reporting, funded by our readers — become a member now and help us prepare for 2025.
Goal: 1,000 new members for our birthday. Gift a membership to your friend and help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Become a member Gift membership
Skip to content
Edit post

Ukraine to OSCE: Russia strikes ports that hold over 1 million tons of food

by Elsa Court and The Kyiv Independent news desk July 20, 2023 5:56 PM 2 min read
The aftermath of the Russian strikes against Odesa Oblast on July 19, 2023. (Photo: State Emergency Service/Telegram)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Russian attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea Coast are hitting ports that contain more than a million tons of food, Ukrainian representative Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk told the OSCE Permanent Council on July 20.

During the meeting in Vienna, Tsymbaliuk called on the international community to ensure the grain could be exported "to protect the most vulnerable populations around the world."

Tsymbaliuk added that saving Ukraine's grain exports would "ensure that Russia's criminal tactics of food blackmailing fail."

Russian attacks have already destroyed 60,000 tons of grain stored in ports in Odesa Oblast on July 19. Agriculture Minister Mykola Solskyi stated that the strikes were "a terrorist act not against Ukraine, but against the whole world."

Most Ukrainian grain exports go to countries in Africa and Asia.

The port city of Odesa has faced three days of consecutive strikes against its infrastructure. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on July 19 that the military had been instructed to strengthen the security of ports following the Russian strikes.

The attacks come after Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17. First brokered in 2022, the deal allowed Ukraine to export its grain even during the ongoing full-scale invasion.

The Russian government warned that as of July 20, all ships sailing toward Ukrainian ports will be regarded as military targets. In response, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on July 20 that from midnight of July 21, all vessels on the Black Sea heading toward Russian or Russia-occupied ports will be treated as carrying military cargo "with all associated risks."

The White House claimed that Moscow considers attacking civilian ships on the Black Sea and putting the blame on Ukraine.

The EU's top diplomat Josep Borrell said on July 20 that Russian attacks against Odesa's port infrastructure and deliberate destruction of food stocks will lead to a large-scale food crisis.

Defense Ministry: Vessels heading to Russia-controlled Black Sea ports to be considered military targets
The Defense Ministry said on July 20 that from midnight of July 21, all vessels on the Black Sea heading toward Russian or Russia-occupied ports will be treated as carrying military cargo “with all associated risks.”
Three years of reporting, funded by our readers.
Millions read the Kyiv Independent, but only one in 10,000 readers makes a financial contribution. Thanks to our community we've been able to keep our reporting free and accessible to everyone. For our third birthday, we're looking for 1,000 new members to help fund our mission and to help us prepare for what 2025 might bring.
Three years. Millions of readers. All thanks to 12,000 supporters.
It’s thanks to readers like you that we can celebrate another birthday this November. We’re looking for another 1,000 members to help fund our mission, keep our journalism accessible for all, and prepare for whatever 2025 might bring. Consider gifting a membership today or help us spread the word.
Help us get 1,000 new members!
Become a member Gift membership
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

3:44 PM

Russian ICBM strike would be 'clear escalation,' EU says.

"While we're assessing the full facts, it's obvious that such (an) attack would mark yet another clear escalation from the side of (Russian President Vladimir Putin," EU foreign affairs spokesperson Peter Stano said, according to AFP.
1:40 PM

Merkel describes Trump as 'fascinated by Putin' in her memoir.

"(Donald Trump) saw everything from the point of view of a property developer, which is what he was before he came into politics. Every plot of land could only be sold once, and if he didn't get it, someone else would," Angela Merkel says in her memoir.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.