Zelensky urges ‘world must respond’ after missile strike hit grain supplies

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said ‘the world must respond’ to ‘Russian terrorists’ who have targeted the world’s food supply.

Drones struck a facility holding Ukraine’s grain exports in the city of Izmail in Odesa, which lies on the Danube River.

A fire broke out at industrial and port facilities, damaging equipment and destroying around 40,000 metric tonnes of grain which was bound to Africa, China and Israel.

Zelensky posted on Telegram: ‘Russian terrorists have once again targeted ports, grain facilities and global food security.

‘The world must respond.’

Video captured by Romanian fisherman on the other side of the river shows explosions and a large fire.

The attacks came after Russia ended a deal which allowed Ukrainian shipments to world markets from the Black Sea port.

Ukraine’s South operational command wrote in an update on Facebook: ‘The goal of the enemy was clearly the facilities of the ports and industrial infrastructure of the region.’

Buildings in the port were also destroyed (Picture: EPA)

Ukraine is a major supplier of wheat, corn, vegetable oil and other agricultural products important to the Middle East, Africa and parts of Asia where people are struggling with high food prices and hunger.

Buildings in the port of Izmail were also destroyed and ships we halted as they prepared to load up with Ukrainian grain in defiance of a de-facto blockade Russia reimposed in mid-July.

The port, across the river from NATO-member Romania, is the main alternative route out of Ukraine for grain exports, since Russia’s blockade halted traffic at Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in mid-July.

Kyiv says the goal of the strikes is to reimpose Russia’s blockade (Picture: EPA)

Kyiv says the goal of the strikes is to reimpose Russia’s blockade by persuading shippers the ports are unsafe to use.

U.S. ambassador Bridget Brink condemned the attacks in a statement, listing recent Russian targets: ‘Homes. Ports. Grain silos. Historic buildings. Men. Women. Children.

‘Round-the-clock and intensifying Russian strikes on Kryvyi Rih, Kharkiv, Kyiv, Kherson make it clear once again Russia has no desire for peace, no thought for civilian safety, and no regard for people around the world who rely on food from Ukraine.’

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‘Russian terrorists have once again targeted ports, grain facilities and global food security.’