Russian Drones Destroy Grain Storage Infrastructure in Ukraine, Impeding Export Routes
In a recent attack, Russian drones have targeted Ukrainian ports along the River Danube, destroying crucial grain storage facilities, according to local officials. These ports are located just across the river from NATO-member Romania. The Danube serves as a vital export route for Kyiv, especially since Russia withdrew from a deal that allowed Ukraine to ship wheat, corn, and other agricultural products via the Black Sea.
Over the past week, more than 60,000 tonnes of grain have been destroyed, causing significant damage to Ukraine’s export capabilities. Furthermore, the collapse of the deal has enabled Russia to resume targeting port locations in Ukraine, which had been suspended during the agreement.
Odesa head Oleh Kiper, whose region includes the Danube ports of Reni and Izmail, stated on his Telegram channel that Russia launched a four-hour long attack on the infrastructure using Iranian-made drones. A grain hangar, storage tanks, and three warehouses were among the structures destroyed in the assault. However, the Ukrainian air defenses managed to shoot down three out of approximately fifteen drones involved.
Officials have reported four injuries, with one individual in critical condition. On the Romanian side of the river, soldiers and sailors witnessed the drones’ approach and the subsequent explosions. This attack is considered the closest hit to Romanian territory since the beginning of the war. Reni is located just 200 meters across the Danube from Romania and approximately 10 kilometers from the Romanian port city of Galati.
Since the Russian invasion, the Danube, as well as road and rail routes from Ukraine to neighboring countries such as Poland and Romania, have become crucial export channels. In the past year, two million tonnes of grain have been exported via the river, a significant increase compared to the previous year’s 600,000 tonnes. However, these routes are still unable to handle the full volume of Ukraine’s export needs and are significantly more expensive logistically than sea transportation.
Moreover, the increased exports through eastern Europe have caused resentment among farmers in neighboring countries. Ukrainian grain has flooded their markets, leading to decreased prices and financial difficulties. As Russia continues its attacks on Ukraine’s grain exports, President Vladimir Putin has declared that his country is capable of replacing Ukrainian grain for African countries that had previously imported from Ukraine, both commercially and free-of-charge.
These recent developments come ahead of the Russia-Africa summit, set to take place in Moscow later this week. Ukraine, often referred to as Europe’s breadbasket, is the seventh largest exporter of wheat globally, with approximately 71% of its land dedicated to agriculture.