2023-07-20 02:58:03
Beware of the “false flag”. Russia is planning attacks on merchant ships carrying grain from Ukraine to the Black Sea and then blaming kyiv, a White House official said on Wednesday.
“The Russian military may expand its targeting” of Ukraine’s grain transportation facilities “to include attacks on civilian boats,” Adam Hodge, spokesman for the US National Security Council, told AFP. These accusations are based on elements of the information which have just been declassified, said the spokesperson.
These comments from Washington come after Moscow’s refusal on Monday to extend the agreement to allow Ukrainian grain exports and after Russian strikes Tuesday and Wednesday on the grain terminals of the port of Odessa.
Mines near ports
“Our information indicates that Russia has laid new mines near Ukrainian ports,” Hodge said. “We believe this is part of a well-coordinated effort to justify any attacks on civilian boats in the Black Sea and blame these attacks on Ukraine,” he said.
Russia announced earlier on Wednesday that it would consider any vessel heading for Ukraine’s Black Sea grain ports a military target. For its part, kyiv is calling for international escorts for these cargo ships after the expiration of this agreement, which is crucial for food in the world.
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