Russia launches missile attack on Black Sea port... Two days after grain export agreement

On the 14th (local time), rescue workers conducted rescue operations on buildings destroyed by bombing in Vinnytsia, Ukraine. Ukrainian authorities reported that three Russian missiles struck an office complex and nearby residential buildings.

The Russian military launched a missile attack on the infrastructure of Odesa, a major export port of Ukraine. This occurred just two days after the four-party negotiations between Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations, and T?rkiye (Turkey) were concluded to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. Due to the airstrike, all previously agreed procedures are expected to become uncertain for the time being.

On the 23rd (local time), Ukraine's Southern Operational Command announced via Telegram that "the Russian military struck the infrastructure of Ukraine's port of Odesa with Kalibr cruise missiles."

Odesa regional lawmaker Oleksiy Honcharenko also reported on his Telegram that there were six explosions around the Odesa port and that a fire broke out at the port.

Additionally, Ukraine's air defense forces shot down several missiles, and fighter jets engaged in aerial combat, urging residents to evacuate.

Honcharenko criticized, "They (Russia) sign contracts with one hand and launch missiles with the other," adding, "Sinking the entire Russian Black Sea Fleet might be the best way to ensure grain exports."

The day before, Ukraine, Russia, the United Nations, and T?rkiye had finalized and signed an agreement to export grain through the Black Sea to address the global food crisis. The agreement aimed to establish safe maritime corridors and open export routes for Ukrainian grain as well as Russian grain and fertilizers.

Until now, the blockade of Black Sea ports by the Russian military had blocked Ukraine's grain exports, a major food-exporting country, raising concerns about global food supply and demand.

Following the dramatic agreement reached in the negotiations, the missile attack on the infrastructure of Odesa?one of the grain export ports designated to guarantee safe routes?has raised concerns that the grain export agreement itself might collapse.

There are also doubts about whether the establishment of the joint coordination center among the four parties, scheduled to begin immediately that day, will proceed properly.

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