Russia has struck the Ukrainian port of Odessa only a day after the 2 nations signed a landmark deal to permit grain exports out of the war-torn nation.
Two Russian cruise missiles hit the port’s infrastructure on Saturday, whereas Ukraine’s air defences introduced down two others missiles.
Odessa’s regional governor, Maksym Marchenko, mentioned an unspecified variety of individuals have been injured within the assault.
Russia has admitted duty for the strike, saying the missiles “destroyed a navy infrastructure goal” on the port.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Moscow’s actions and mentioned “the invaders can not deceive anybody”.
And Ukrainian overseas ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko mentioned: “It took lower than 24 hours for Russia to launch a missile assault on Odesa’s port, breaking its guarantees and undermining its commitments earlier than the UN and Turkey underneath the Istanbul settlement.
“In case of non-fulfilment, Russia will bear full duty for a world meals disaster.”
The assault was additionally condemned within the UK, with overseas secretary Liz Truss branding it “completely appalling”.
“It’s completely appalling that solely a day after placing this deal, Vladimir Putin has launched a totally unwarranted assault on Odessa,” she mentioned.
“It reveals that not a phrase he says could be trusted.”
The strike got here simply hours after Moscow and Kyiv signed a deal to permit grain exports to proceed via the Black Sea in a transfer the UN described as a “beacon of hope” for ending the worldwide meals disaster.
The conflict in Ukraine — which provides a lot of the world with merchandise equivalent to wheat and corn — has halted Ukrainian sea shipments and precipitated grain costs to rise dramatically.
Beneath the deal signed on Friday, a path opened for vital volumes of economic meals to depart the ports of Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny.
A key factor of the deal was the settlement by each Russia and Ukraine that there could be no assaults on any of the vessels.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken mentioned the assault forged severe doubt on Russia’s dedication to the deal and warned of a deepening of the worldwide meals disaster.
“Russia should cease its aggression and absolutely implement the grain deal to which it has agreed,” he mentioned.
The US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, additionally denounced the strike “outrageous” and accused the the Kremlin of “weaponising” meals.
“Russia have to be held to account.”
