Russia attacks Odesa port from Black Sea day after pulling out of grain deal
Russia attacked the Black Sea port of Odesa on Tuesday, a day after pulling out of a deal to allow safe passage from its docks, according to media reports citing Ukraine’s military as saying.
Ukraine’s air force said six Kalibr cruise missiles and 36 drones were launched at the country’s south and east.
Damage was reported to Odesa’s port infrastructure and to private homes after rocket fragments hit the city. One elderly man was said to have been wounded.
An industrial site was hit in the city of Mykolaiv, the Ukrainian military said, causing a fire that its mayor called “quite serious”.
Ukraine suspects the missiles were fired from the Black Sea frigate Admiral Essen and the drones from Crimea. The air force said it intercepted most of the incoming fire.
The barrage comes a day after Russia vowed to retaliate following an explosion on a bridge linking Crimea to the Russian mainland.
Russia said road traffic was partially restored on Tuesday after an attack it blamed on Ukrainian drones.
The Kremlin separately announced on Monday it would not extend the grain deal that provided for safe shipping corridors in the Black Sea.
Russia and Ukraine are two of the world’s top agricultural exporters and Moscow’s decision sparked fears for global food security. Russia said safety guarantees for shipping were no longer in place, with part of the Black Sea now designated as dangerous for mariners. – News Agencies
