KYIV, UKRAINE – In a significant escalation of hostilities, Russian drones have launched attacks on a Ukrainian port city along the border with NATO member Romania, resulting in substantial damage and a massive fire at facilities critical to Ukrainian grain exports. The incident follows Russia’s departure from a deal that allowed Ukrainian shipments to world markets through the city of Odesa, prompting a series of drone and missile strikes on Ukrainian ports in recent weeks.
The latest attack hit the city of Izmail on the Danube River, part of the Ukraine-Romania border. Video footage captured by fishermen in Romania showed explosions and a large fire on the opposite side of the river. Three Ukrainian ports along the Danube are currently operational.
Ukraine’s South operational command reported on Facebook that the enemy’s goal was to target port and industrial infrastructure in the region. The attack resulted in a fire at industrial and port facilities, and significant damage to a grain elevator.
Ukraine’s air force managed to intercept 23 Shahed drones overnight, with most of the activity reported in Odesa and Kyiv. All ten drones that targeted Kyiv were successfully intercepted, though the situation caused widespread panic with numerous loud explosions and debris hitting different districts of the capital.
The attacks have already impacted global markets, with wheat prices rising by about 3% and corn prices up nearly 2%. Ukraine is a major supplier of wheat, corn, vegetable oil, and other agricultural products, particularly important to regions struggling with high food prices and hunger, such as the Middle East, Africa, and parts of Asia.
Ukraine can also export its products by road and rail through Europe, but these routes are more costly and have led to divisions among nearby countries. Last year, Russia and Ukraine reached a deal through the United Nations and Turkey to reopen three Ukrainian Black Sea ports and ensure their safety. However, Russia refused to renew the agreement, citing delays in its own exports, which has led to the current escalation.
In a phone conversation, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan assured Russia’s President Vladimir Putin that he would seek to restore the Black Sea initiative to export Ukrainian grain. This initiative, referred to as a “bridge of peace,” aims to ease tensions and facilitate trade. Both leaders agreed on Putin’s upcoming visit to Turkey.
As the conflict continues, civilian casualties have been reported, including two wounded individuals in Kherson, a doctor killed, and five medical personnel wounded in an attack on a city hospital. In the Donetsk region, four people were injured in Russian shelling, and a 91-year-old woman lost her life in an attack on a village in the Kharkiv region.
The situation remains tense and unpredictable as both sides continue to engage in armed conflict, further impacting regional stability and global markets. The international community is closely monitoring the developments and seeking avenues for de-escalation and peaceful resolution.