NEWS FROM UKRAINE: ODESA UNDER ATTACK

Almost a year to the day after Ukraine, Turkey, russia and the UN forged an agreement known as the Black Sea Grain Initiative–an agreement that reinstated Ukraine’s vital food exports to the world and stabilized worldwide grain prices–russia withdrew from the initiative. Less than 24 hours later, russian missiles and drones bombed the vibrant port city of Odesa, damaging homes and port infrastructure. The initiative’s dissolution already is having broad repercussions: The railways, roads and river ports now being used by Ukraine as alternate grain export routes have become targets, as seen by the recent bombing of Ukraine’s main inland port on the Danube River, across from Romania.

In retaliation for russia’s bombing of Ukrainian ports, Ukraine has used sea drones full of explosives twice to attack a russian fuel tanker Ukraine says was transporting fuel for the russian military in Ukrainian territorial waters. While Ukraine specifically hones in on russian military targets with strategic counteroffensive aims, russia has been targeting civilian and medical infrastructure in retaliation. These attacks and retaliatory attacks are escalating concerns about the fate of the world’s food and fuel supplies, the already fragile  health of the Black Sea, and the impact the warring will have on other countries that border the Black Sea.

Sources:  Institute for the Study of War, The New York Times, Newsweek, and Reuters.