Russia Attacks Ukraine's Grain Export Ports for Third Day, Raising Concerns Over Export Disruptions

Strikes on Odesa and Danube River Ports: Ukraine’s Grain Shipments Down 76% This Month
Ukraine Also Attacks Russian Rear-Area Infrastructure as Fighting Intensifies

Russia has attacked Ukraine's key grain export routes, including Black Sea and Danube River ports, for the third consecutive day.

Yonhap News Agency

The Russian Ministry of Defense announced on the 15th (local time) that, on the previous evening, it struck a fuel and lubricants storage facility at Ukraine’s Yuzhny Port as well as a patrol boat at Odesa Port. It also reported attacking infrastructure at Izmail, a Danube River port, overnight.

Since July 2023, after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain deal, Danube River ports such as Izmail have served as an alternative route for Ukrainian grain exports. As Russia intensifies attacks on major export ports during the harvest season, Ukraine's grain shipments for export this month have plummeted by 76% compared to the same period last year.

The possibility of a 'grain ceasefire' between the two countries was raised, but Russia dismissed the idea. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that there had been no official ceasefire proposal from Ukraine, arguing that any limited truce could provide Ukraine with time to rearm.

As fighting escalates, concerns are growing about rising international grain prices. The Chicago wheat futures price surpassed $7 per bushel last month, reaching its highest level since the end of 2023.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is attacking Russian rear-area infrastructure with long-range drones and missiles. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that, on this day, the Ukrainian military attacked a rocket factory in the Samara region, about 900 km from the border, with Flamingo missiles. Russia’s Ust-Luga oil facility and Savastleyka airbase were also included among the targets.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.