Ukrainain attacks overnight that forced two major grain export terminals in the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk to suspend operations prompted warnings the disruption could add to pressure on global grain prices. Photo by Suraj Tripathi/Pixabay
Aug. 13 (UPI) — Two major export terminals handling millions of tons of grain were damaged in Ukrainian strikes overnight on the Russian Black Sea port of Novorossiysk that killed three people, including an 8-year-old child, and injured 24.
The Union Grain Company said one of its facilities sustained damage but that no one was injured in what Krasnodar Krai region officials said was a “mblockive attack” that hit schools and other civilian infrastructure, businesses and homes in Novorossiysk, Anapa, Gelendzhik and Temryuk districts.
Russian media outlets said the other terminal hit belonged to Demetra Holding and that the two facilities jointly handled almost 16 million tons of grain annually.
Water in Novorossiysk was cut due to damage to water mains, prompting the city to declare an emergency.
Ukraine’s military said four warships from Russia’s Black Sea fleet, which is docked in Novorossiysk after being hounded out of its home base in Crimea by Ukrainian strikes, were struck.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed the attack as a “unique operation,” combining rockets and both aerial and sea drones to target the Russian navy.
“The occupying fleet and all the infrastructure that supports it will not be safe as long as Russian aggression continues,” said Zelensky, who did not make any reference to the port’s grain export infrastructure.
The strikes on the world’s largest wheat exporter prompted warnings of possible impacts on global food markets which have already seen a surge in wheat prices on commodities exchanges amid attacks by both sides on each other’s export infrastructure.
Ukraine is also a major supply of food to global markets, a top-five exporter of wheat, corn barley and rapeseed, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman Maria Zakharova said Ukraine was acting in the interests of its Western allies to foment “chaos” in the global food markets.
She said it worsened “shortages of grain and fertilizers, drives up global food prices and increases the costs for countries in the Global South and East, which have become hostages to the irresponsible policies of these ‘players.”
On Wednesday, Russia’s agriculture ministry said that in response to “current logistical constraints,” it was taking steps to reroute trade flows overland and via Baltic Sea and Caspian Sea ports.