Russia has destroyed almost 300,000 metric tons of grain since July in attacks on Ukraine’s port facilities and on ships, the Ukrainian government said, underscoring the war’s threat to global food security.
In the summer, Moscow quit a U.N.-brokered deal that had allowed exports of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea safely. Since then, Russian forces have hit six civilian ships and 150 port and grain facilities during 17 attacks, destroying crops headed for export, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said in a statement.
“This is Russia’s attempt to deepen the food crisis in the countries that depend on Ukrainian products,” Kubrakov said.
The damage to Ukrainian ports reduced the country’s grain export potential by 40%, he said. Russia has attacked port facilities on both the Black Sea and the Danube River.
