Ukraine (27) announced on Wednesday that activities in the ports have resumed grain exports, which had been blocked since the start of the Russian occupation five months ago, and that its army attacked a strategic bridge in the occupied city in an attempt to regain its territory. (southern).
“As part of the signing of the agreement on the release of Ukrainian ports for the export of grain, the ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk and Pivdennyi have resumed their work,” the Ukrainian Navy told Telegram.
The announcement comes days after Ukraine and Russia signed agreements in Istanbul under UN mediation to alleviate the global food crisis and create “safe corridors” in the Black Sea.
The agreements include the establishment of a coordination center in Istanbul to oversee the resumption of grain transport. Officially appointed by Turkey on Wednesday, the agency will be responsible for inspecting ships leaving and arriving in Istanbul to make sure they only carry grain.
Recently, Russian occupation officials in Kherson noted that Ukrainian artillery had struck the Antonovsky Bridge over the Dnieper River. Infrastructure is needed to feed the city and connects it to the rest of the region.
Meanwhile, German pipeline operator Nord Stream I said Russian gas deliveries had fallen to one-fifth of estimated capacity, raising the risk of an energy crisis in Europe.
Faced with this threat, the EU agreed a day ago to reduce its gas consumption by at least 15% between August 2022 and March 2023, compared to the five-year average for the same period.
resumption of activities
Since the beginning of the conflict, more than 20 million tons of grain have been blocked in ports in the Odessa region due to the presence of Russian warships and the mines that Kiev has placed to defend its coast.
Both countries are among the world’s largest grain exporters. On July 22, thanks to the mediation of the United Nations and Turkey, they agreed to remove the barrier to grain. However, efforts are still needed to ensure the safety of freighters.
The Ukrainian Navy said, “The ships will leave and enter the seaports, forming a convoy to accompany the first ship. But before that, the hard work of the hydrographs will be done to determine safe routes.”
Ukrainian officials stressed that they do not trust Moscow to ensure the safety of the ships.
The agreement reached in Istanbul was jeopardized by the Russian bombing of Odessa on Saturday. The attack sparked a wave of condemnation, although Moscow stressed that it was targeting military infrastructure.
On Monday, Kyiv said it hopes to restart exports “this week”.
Attack on Kherson
Further east, also on the shores of the Black Sea, Ukraine is trying to recapture the territories occupied by Russia after five months of war.
The Russian director of the Kherson district administration, Kirill Stremusov, confirmed on Wednesday that the main bridge in the city of the same name was hit in the early hours and traffic was stopped.
However, the official said it would have “no impact” on the conflicts. “Special military operation continues,” he said, using Kremlin terms for the invasion.
In recent weeks, Ukrainian forces have been retaking territory in this part of southern Ukraine, thanks in part to long-range artillery provided by Western countries.
The region fell into the hands of the Russians shortly after their invasion on February 24. The region is strategic as it is adjacent to the Crimean peninsula, which was annexed by Moscow in 2014.
Ukrainian officials recently announced that they will “absolutely” liberate the region in September. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mikhailo Podoliak said on Twitter that Russian forces should leave Kherson “while they still can”.
Further east, the Donbass region, partly controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, has not been spared fighting.
In Bakhmut, one of the last Ukrainian-controlled cities in the region, AFP journalists heard artillery fire and saw a house damaged by Russian rockets.
“I was in the barn and was going to go. I heard a hiss. And I don’t remember anything. It exploded and I was thrown into the barn with a shock wave,” said Roman, 51.
The head of the Donetsk province, which, together with Luhansk, forms Donbass, said on social media that Russian artillery had hit a hotel and that initial reports showed that the attacks left people dead and injured.
source: Noticias
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