Ukraine has condemned Russia's latest attack on Odesa, saying Vladimir Putin has spat in the face of United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan.
Kremlin forces struck the Black Sea port of Odesa with missiles on Saturday, just one day after Moscow and Kyiv struck a "life-saving" deal to secure the transit of grain through Black Sea routes.
The deal was brokered by the UN and Turkey and so Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko said with the strikes, President Vladimir Putin of Russia had “spit in the face” of the United Nations secretary general, Antonio Guterres, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey after the two “expended enormous effort to reach this agreement.”
The deal allowed up to five million tons of grain to be moved out of Odesa, guided through sea mines by pilot ships, while Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed not to attack them.
In a huge betrayal of the deal, Russian forces fired four Kalibr cruise missiles at Odesa. Two of the rockets were shot down by air defence forces and two hit port infrastructure facilities.
“It took less than 24 hours for Russia to launch a missile attack on Odesa’s port, breaking its promises,” said Mr Nikolenko.
He said Russia will now bear full responsibility for the global food crisis.
Yesterday's agreement marked a step toward easing a global food crisis in Africa and the Middle East but that has now been compromised.
Aid agencies have sounded the alarm about the knock-on effects of the blockade on grain and wheat in regions like East Africa. Countries like Somalia, Kenya and Ethiopia already facing severe food insecurity will face dire famine.
Oleksiy Honcharenko, a local MP, wrote on Telegram: "These scumbags sign contracts with one hand and direct missiles with the other.
"So, we need planes and we need to sink the entire Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation. This will be the best arrangement for the export of grain."
Ukraine is the fifth largest grain producer with 22 million tons in silos near Odesa.
The price of wheat finally plunged to pre-war levels yesterday following the deal, which took over two months to reach.
It is unclear whether there were casualties or substantial damage to the grain.
