Russian missiles struck the Ukrainian port of Odesa for the second consecutive night, causing widespread damage and chaos. The attack comes as retaliation after a bridge linking Russia to the Crimean Peninsula was bombed, an incident that Moscow blamed on Kyiv. The attacks on Odesa, a major grain exporting port, have raised concerns about the stability of global food supplies.
According to Serhiy Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Odesa military administration, the aerial assault was “very powerful, truly massive” and created a night of terror for the city. Details regarding casualties and damage are yet to emerge.
This attack on Odesa followed Russia’s withdrawal from a year-old Black Sea grain agreement, which allowed for the safe export of Ukraine’s grain. The United Nations warned that this move could potentially result in hunger worldwide. Despite the threats and intimidation from Russia, Ukrainian authorities vowed to continue their work to export grain.
The rest of Ukraine also faced air raid alerts throughout the night, with Russia launching attacks on various other locations, including a drone attack on Kyiv. Serhiy Popko, head of Kyiv’s city military administration, confirmed the attack on the Ukrainian capital and announced that there may have been damage or casualties. The Ukrainian air force reported downing 37 out of 63 targets in the Odesa region, including suicide drones and cruise missiles aimed at critical infrastructure and military facilities. However, Ukraine’s success rate in countering Russian air attacks seemed lower than usual.
There has been no immediate comment from Russia regarding the attacks. However, on Tuesday, Russia’s Defense Ministry stated that it had conducted military strikes on two Ukrainian port cities as a “mass revenge strike” for the attack on the Crimean Bridge. In Crimea, a fire broke out at a military training ground, leading to the evacuation of over 2,000 people. The cause of the fire is unknown, but Ukrainian media and Russian channels linked to security services reported that an ammunition depot had caught fire due to an overnight Ukrainian air attack.
The international community, particularly the United Nations, is working on solutions to ensure the continued export of Ukrainian and Russian grain and fertilizer. The Black Sea grain agreement, which was brokered by the U.N. and Turkey, aimed to combat food shortages caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and the subsequent blockade of Ukrainian ports. The termination of the agreement has raised concerns about rising food prices and hunger, especially in Africa and Asia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy pledged to fight for global security and the welfare of Ukrainian farmers. Ukraine is exploring alternatives to fulfill its commitments on food supply. Moscow, on the other hand, rejected Ukraine’s calls to resume shipping without Russian involvement and insisted on security guarantees for the region. Russia has also demanded eased export rules for its own food and fertilizer in exchange for potentially returning to the grain agreement. Western countries perceive this as an attempt to leverage food supplies to weaken financial sanctions.
The situation remains tense, and the international community is closely monitoring the developments in the region.