Ukraine Update: Russia attacks Odesa with drones and missiles as grain deal ends

Russia attacked the city of Odesa with a barrage of missiles and drones in the early hours of Wednesday morning, causing significant damage. Reports indicate damage to docks and equipment used to load grain ships. In addition, over 60,000 tons of grain held in storage were reported to have been destroyed in an attack that local officials described as “hellish.”

This is the second straight night that Odesa has been subject to waves of attack. Russia has declared these attacks to be “retribution” for the attack on the Karch Bridge connecting Russia to occupied Crimea. However, by attacking the grain facilities, Russia isn’t just damaging Ukraine: They are attacking every nation and every person whose life depends on grain exports from the highly productive fields of Ukraine. Russia is also directly launching an attack on the stability of global food prices.

At the same time it was launching these attacks, Russia made it clear that it now considered any grain ships in the Black Sea to be subject to attack. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan had previously indicated that Turkey would protect grain ships even if Russia failed to cooperate, but it’s uncertain that Turkish vessels will actually risk damage to escort grain ships, or that grain ships would be willing to take the risk.