Just one day after signing the agreement to resume the export of grain through the Black Sea, Ukraine accused Russia on Saturday of launching missiles against the strategic port of Odessa and of “always” breaking its promises. “The port of Odessa was specifically attacked when grain shipments were being processed. (…) They attacked a territory where grain is found,” military spokesman Yuriy Ignat said, after two Kalibr cruise missiles hit port infrastructure and two others were shot down.
Russian denial
Turkish Defense Minister Hukusi Akar stated on Saturday that the Russian authorities denied their involvement in the attack that occurred on Saturday. “The Russians told us that they had absolutely nothing to do with the attack and that they were studying the matter very closely,” he said. However, the minister acknowledged that the incident is of a worrying nature. since his country works as a guarantor of a pact that converts Odessa and two other ports in the country into safe zones for the export of grain.
The spokesman for the Ukrainian administration in Odesa, Serhi Bratchuk, assured that four missiles were launched against the port. One of them hit the commercial area, while two others were intercepted by the Ukrainian air defense system. The fourth missile would have hit another area of the port. Bratchuk assured that all the projectiles were Kalibr model, used by the Russian forces.
“The attack is a spit by Vladimir Putin in the face of the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, and the President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan,” said the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry, referring to the fourth missile that hit the port area.
For his part, the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, guaranteed that Ukraine will continue to comply with the conditions of the Istanbul pact, for the part that corresponds to them. The minister assured that the bombings will not stop the work of the Ukrainian authorities. “We do not trust Russia, but we trust our partners and allies, that’s why the Initiative on the safe transportation of grain and food products from Ukrainian ports was signed with the UN and Turkey, and not with Russia,” he recalled.
the deal
The agreement sealed in Istanbul is the first major agreement between the warring parties since the Russian invasion on February 24 and was eagerly awaited to help alleviate hunger. which, according to the UN, face an additional 47 million people due to the war.
Ukraine refused to sign directly on the same document with Russia, so both countries separately signed identical agreements with Turkey and the UN.in the presence of Guterres and Erdogan, at the Dolmabahce Palace in Istanbul.
Before signing, Ukraine warned that it would give an immediate military response if Russia violates the pact and attacks its ships or raids its ports. The Ukrainian president said that the UN must ensure compliance with the agreement, which includes the transit of ships with Ukrainian grains through safe corridors to avoid mines in the Black Sea.
Up to 20 million tons of wheat and other grains are blocked in Ukrainian ports, especially Odessa, by Russian warships and mines laid by kyiv to prevent an amphibious attack. Volodimir Zelensky estimates that the total value of Ukraine’s grain is around $10 billion.
According to sources from the Ukrainian Ministry of Agriculture, quoted by Ukrinform, in the port of Odesa there are stored grains ready for export, although their volume is not specified. “We are not going to detail that cargo, because it is the responsibility of the Infrastructure department. But the first shipments are being prepared for tomorrow or the day after tomorrow,” according to that medium.
repercussions
Ukraine’s president said the Odessa port attack simply shows that Moscow is looking for ways to renege on the grain export deal signed just a day earlier with the United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine. “This proves only one thing: no matter what Russia says and promises, it will find ways to renege on it,” Zelensky charged. in a video posted on Telegram.
Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for the UN Secretary General, recalled “Yesterday, all parties made a clear commitment before the world to ensure the safe movement of Ukrainian grain and its related products.” Referring to the seriousness of the current world situation regarding food security “Millions of people around the world need these products to alleviate the global food crisis and its suffering of the affected population. It is imperative that the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey fully comply with the provisions.”added the UN spokesman.
For his part, the head of EU diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called Russia’s missile attack reprehensible. “Hitting a crucial grain export target a day after the signing of the Istanbul accords is particularly reprehensible and again demonstrates Russia’s utter disregard for international law and commitments,” Borrell wrote on Twitter.
The spokesman for the Ukrainian foreign ministry, Oleg Nikolenko, added that Russia must bear “full responsibility” if that agreement is broken. Referring to the mediators of the deal, the spokesman added: “This is an attack by Vladimir Putin on UN Secretary General António Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.”
The reactions of rejection also extended to the diplomacy of the United States, whose ambassador in kyiv, Bridged Brink, recalled through Twitter that the agreement on cereals has not been signed for 24 hours and that Russia should be held accountable for what happened.