They destroyed grain, not weapons: Russia attacks food ship in Ukrainian port

On the night of October 6, Russian shelling damaged a civilian vessel in the port of Pivdennyi, which was carrying 6,000 tons of Ukrainian corn. This is the 20th civilian vessel to suffer from Russian attacks, and the Kremlin claims to have destroyed military cargo.

This was reported by the Ministry of Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine. On October 6, 2024, Russian troops launched another missile attack on the port of Pivdennyi, where the civilian ship PARESA flying the flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis, which was transporting a cargo of corn for export, was damaged.

At the time of the attack, the PARESA vessel was loaded with about 6,000 tons of corn, a critical foodstuff for a number of countries, especially in Africa and Asia. Despite the serious damage, fortunately, none of the 15 crew members, citizens of Egypt and Syria, were injured.

The food cargo was destined for international export, and such attacks jeopardize not only Ukraine's infrastructure but also the food security of many countries that depend on Ukrainian grain supplies. This is not the first time that Russian shelling has damaged civilian vessels in Black Sea ports.

Ukraine's Vice Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba noted that PARESA is the 20th civilian vessel to suffer from Russian attacks. A few weeks ago, the aggressor also attacked a vessel carrying wheat to Egypt, again jeopardizing global food security.

Ukraine is an important exporter of grain and other agricultural products, so stopping or delaying food shipments could have catastrophic consequences for markets in Africa, Asia, and Europe. In 2023, after Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, the situation with the export of Ukrainian agricultural products became much more complicated.

But despite the regular attacks, Ukraine continues to work to maintain food corridors and export grain to countries in need. In particular, over the past year, more than 70 million tons of cargo have been shipped from Ukrainian ports, which is about 2,500 ships.

The Russian side has traditionally tried to justify its attacks by claiming that it was "destroying military cargo." However, the facts show otherwise: only civilian ships carrying food cargo, which supply the world markets with essential products, are being targeted. This is part of Russia's hybrid warfare strategy, where destabilization of the global food system is becoming an important tool of political pressure.

Recent attacks have also affected Ukraine's border areas, putting neighboring countries at risk. For example, during a rocket attack on the Izmail district of Odesa region, the infrastructure necessary for the transportation of goods across the Danube was damaged. Truck drivers waiting to cross the border and other facilities at the Orlivka checkpoint, which is an important export channel to Europe, were affected. This is the fourth attack on Orlivka since the beginning of the full-scale invasion.

As OBOZ.UA previously reported, Russia and its partners have sold almost a billion dollars worth of grain stolen from the occupied territories of Ukraine, using a network of companies and ships for illegal exports. These revenues help Russia mitigate the impact of sanctions and finance its war against Ukraine.

Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes!