Russian drones attack production complexes and granaries in Odesa region

During the night, the Russian forces launched another attack on civilian infrastructure. 

Rubryka reports, referring to the Odesa City Council, the Russians struck the southern Odesa region with drones from the eastern coast of the Sea of Azov.

The Russians targeted granaries and a production and transshipment complex in the Danube. Air defense forces destroyed nine Shahed-136/131 drones. But unfortunately, one reached its target, leading to a fire in the warehouse. The fire was promptly contained. Firefighters continue their work.

There were no casualties among civilians. All relevant services are on-site. The head of the region reported that law enforcement officers record the crimes of Russians.

Rubryka reported on August 16 that Russian drones attacked a port in the Odesa region. The main target of the Russian occupiers was once again the port and grain infrastructure.

What happened before that

On July 17, the Kremlin refused to extend its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by Turkiye and the UN, to open Ukrainian ports, blocked by Russian warships since the start of the invasion in February 2022, for food and grain export.

After Russia pulled out of the deal, the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, offered Turkiye and the UN to continue the grain initiative in a trilateral format. Ukraine is considering the possibility of transporting food through the territorial waters of Romania and Bulgaria.

On July 19, the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation threatened that any countries under whose flags ships would be sent to Ukrainian ports would be considered involved in the war. In turn, Ukraine promised to respond in kind to Russia's threats to sink ships.

Almost a month after Russia withdrew from the grain agreement, Ukraine announced opening temporary corridors for merchant ships in the Black Sea. However, the Navy of Ukraine stressed that the threat from the Russian Federation remains.

The routes are primarily intended for the departure of civilian ships that have been in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Pivdennyi since the beginning of the full-scale war.

After leaving the grain agreement, Russia constantly attacks Ukraine's port and grain infrastructure. In particular, the ports of the Odesa region came under attack. The Russian occupiers repeatedly attacked the port of Izmail, which is located near the border with Romania, a NATO member.