Following withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, the Russian Federation has continued attacks on export infrastructure. Missile and drone attacks have been directed against warehouses and loading installations at all ports in Ukraine.
Raids have now extended beyond the three Black Sea ports of Odesa and Chornomorsk and Yuzhny to the Danube River port of Izmail close to the border with Bulgaria.
On Wednesday, August 23rd, a considerable quantity of grain was destroyed in a missile strike on Izmail. Deputy Prime Minister of the Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, confirmed that port capacity was reduced and accused Russia of “systematically hitting grain silos and warehouses to stop agricultural exports”.
Attacking agricultural and export infrastructure with no military significance represents economic warfare in an attempt to subdue the Republic of Ukraine. The action by Russia also inflates the market price of Russian wheat benefitting their economy. This escalation in the price of ingredients is to the detriment of all consumers worldwide.