After several weeks of terrorizing Kyiv with Iranian drones and nine months of unprovoked war, Russia called off participation in July’s grain export agreement. Vital Ukrainian grain exports from Black Sea ports will be at risk again, now that Moscow has suspended their support. After a supposed drone attack on Russian ships in occupied Crimea, Moscow once again feels justified and free to blockade and attack grain shipments from Ukraine on the Black Sea.
The Turkey and UN-brokered deal signed between Russia and Ukraine to unlock grain exports was signed in July. The deal is critical to easing the global food crisis caused by the Russian war on the Ukraine. The deal has allowed more than 9 million tones of Ukrainian grain to be exported the past 90 days, with renewal scheduled in November.
Russia’s Design on Ukraine
As bombing and drone usage continue by Russia, they now claim Ukraine’s supposed drone attack to be an act of terrorism. Saturday, the Russian defense ministry stated Ukraine attacked the Black Sea Fleet near Sevastopol in the annexed Crimean Peninsula, using 16 drones. They further stated that British navy “specialists” had assisted in the “terrorist” attack, based in the southern Ukrainian city of Ochakiv.
Calling the incident a “terrorist act by the Kyiv regime” against civilian vessels providing for the security of the ‘grain corridor’, Russia was officially suspending participation in the implementation of agreements on agricultural exports from the Ukrainian ports. Translation – Russia will be on the prowl for Ukrainian grain exports, causing a reduction in shipments from the crucial Black Sea ports.
The Russian army claims to have “destroyed” nine aerial and seven maritime drones during the port attack. Yesterday, the defense ministry stated that drones pieces had been recovered and they contained Canadian made navigational parts.
Making matters worse, Russia continues their propagandist agenda, claiming Ukraine is only exporting grain to rich western countries, in an effort to gain high profits.
Ukraine’s Situation
The bombing of Kyiv by Russian drones and missiles continued overnight, with much of the city waking up with no electricity and water this morning. Despite the raging war, the country has managed to export more than 4 million metric tons of food in August alone, providing crucial resources to developing nations worldwide.
With the help of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the UN Food Program, Ukrainian wheat shipments have made their way to the Horn of Africa and Yemen, both highly impacted by drought and in need of sufficient food sources.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Moscow is “deliberately aggravating” the food crisis. Yesterday, Zelensky stated, “This is an absolutely transparent intention of Russia to return the threat of large-scale famine to Africa and Asia.”
The UK
Russia now claims the same British unit used for the drone attack over the weekend was involved in explosions on the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month. The UK is on high alert and now strongly rebukes both claims, stating “the Russian Ministry of Defence is resorting to peddling false claims of an epic scale”.
The U.S.
Over the weekend, the U.S. accused the Kremlin of “weaponizing food” by suspending its participation in July’s agreement. President Joe Biden told reporters that Russia’s move was “purely outrageous” and that “It’s going to increase starvation.” U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated on Saturday, “Any act by Russia to disrupt these critical grain exports is essentially a statement that people and families around the world should pay more for food or go hungry” and that “In suspending this arrangement, Russia is again weaponizing food in the war it started.”
Predictably, Russia’s Ambassador Anatoly Antonov shot back at the U.S. on Sunday for its reaction, reiterating the unsubstantiated claims of U.K. operative involvement in the drone attack. Antonov stated, “Washington’s reaction to the terrorist attack on the port of Sevastopol is truly outrageous.”
On Sunday, the U.N. and Turkey were trying to bring Russia back to the table. Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar has supposedly been meeting with his counterparts in Russia. U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres is engaged in “intense contacts” aimed at bringing Russia back to the deal.
