Since the end of a deal between Russia and Ukraine, Russian drones have been relentlessly targeting Ukrainian ports and river ports.
On Wednesday, these attacks reached a peak with significant damage to infrastructure and facilities that are key to Ukrainian grain exports, causing a huge fire which resulted in the destruction of 40,000 metric tons of grain.
The two countries had agreed upon an initiative allowing for safe passage into Ukraine’s Black Sea ports, but Russia has since refused to renew the agreement.
The strikes occurred overnight in Odesa and Kyiv as well as Izmail on the Danube River border of Romania – a NATO member country.
Videos obtained by The Associated Press show explosions and a large fire across the Danube river, captured by fishermen from Romania’s side.
As a result of the attack, industrial port facilities were set ablaze along with the destruction of a grain elevator while wheat prices rose about 3% and corn prices nearly 2% on Wednesday in Chicago trading before erasing those spikes later on.
Despite efforts taken to intercept ten Shahed drones launched at Kyiv using its air force system – leading to numerous loud explosions heard throughout – three districts of capital were still struck with debris resulting in damage to nonresidential buildings.
Two civilians were also wounded during shelling from Kherson while an elderly woman died along with five medical personnel injured due to an attack on hospital grounds there as well.
Additionally, four people were wounded during Russian shelling within Donetsk region while Nikopol was attacked three times across the river from Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.
Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Vladimir Putin over phone on Wednesday where he expressed his intentions towards restoring “the bridge of peace” initiative allowing for export routes out Ukrainian grain primarily targeted by Russian forces inside his country.
According Putin’s office statement both leaders agree that West must fulfill all obligations recorded within Istanbul agreements before successful return is possible.
