Russian army has obliterated 300,000 tons of Ukrainian grain in just three months
Photo: operational command "South"
Since the withdrawal of the Russian Federation from the grain agreement, the occupying forces have carried out 17 massive attacks on the port infrastructure of Ukraine and destroyed almost 300,000 tons of grain.
The Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, stated this during the visit of the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, to Odesa, Radio Svoboda writes.
During his stay in Odesa, the head of the Dutch government saw the consequences of the attacks of the Russian army on the infrastructure involved in agricultural exports.
"17 massive attacks since Russia's withdrawal from the Grain Agreement, a 40% decrease in the export potential of ports, almost 300,000 tons of destroyed grain – this is Russia's attempt to deepen the food crisis in those countries that depend on Ukrainian products," Kubrakov said.
According to the Ukrainian minister, however, ships continue to move along the grain corridor created after the Kremlin's grain initiative was terminated.
"To date, 21 vessels have used this corridor for export, and 25 vessels have entered the ports for loading. We continue to work on expanding the corridor; it is our responsibility for the world's food security," the head of the ministry emphasized.
As Rubryka reported, Zelensky and Rutte discussed joint steps to ensure Ukraine's defense at a meeting in Odesa. Zelensky emphasized that during the negotiations, special attention was paid to protecting Odesa and the entire South of Ukraine – from the Danube ports to the Greater Odesa ports. The interlocutors also discussed the protection of export corridors in the Black Sea.
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In July, Russia announced that it was withdrawing from the "grain agreement" due to alleged non-fulfillment of its terms. After that, the occupiers began shelling Ukrainian ports and grain infrastructure in the south of Ukraine.
In August, Ukraine announced the opening of temporary corridors for merchant vessels in the Black Sea. The Navy of Ukraine emphasized 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 Pivdenny since the beginning of the full-scale war launched by Russia.
On August 16, the first ship left the port of Odesa after the termination of the "grain agreement," it arrived in Istanbul, Turkey, on August 18.
Additionally, on September 26, it was reported that seven ships had already left Odesa ports through the temporary humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea.
As Rubryka wrote, as of September 26, only half of the 100 ships that were blocked after the beginning of the full-scale Russian Federation invasion of Ukraine's territory remained in Ukrainian ports.
