Russia launched an attack on Ukraine’s primary inland port, which is located on the Romanian side of the Danube River, on Wednesday. This comes as Russia ramps up its use of force in an effort to reimpose a blockade.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry has reported that a grain silo in the Danube port of Izmail, in the Odesa region, has been damaged. The Ukrainian government claimed on X that their grain could feed millions of people around the world.
Since Russia restored its de facto blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports around the middle of July, this port across the river from NATO member Romania has served as the primary alternative route out of Ukraine for grain exports.
Unfortunately, there are damages,” President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said via Telegram. “The most important ones are in the south. Terrorists from Russia have once again targeted ports, grain, and global food security.”
Wednesday’s attack caused a 4% increase in Chicago wheat prices, which remained around 2.5% higher later in the morning.