Russia Hits Ukraine's Danube Port, Leaves Global Grain Prices Soaring

Following the attack on Wednesday, Chicago wheat prices rose by 4%, leading traders to worry about potential impacts on global supplies if Ukraine is forced out of the market.

The ports hit by Moscow includes an inland port across the Danube River from Romania.

Source : Getty

In an attempt to reimpose a blockade on Ukrainian exports, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's grain port on Wednesday, causing global food prices to surge, as reported by the news agency Reuters. The ports targeted by Moscow include an inland port located across the Danube River from Romania. Fortunately, no casualties have been reported thus far. However, Ukraine's defence ministry stated that a grain silo was damaged in the Danube port of Izmail in the Odesa region. The ministry took to Twitter to highlight the significance of Ukrainian grain in feeding millions of people worldwide.

Odesa region governor Oleh Kiper posted several photos on Telegram showing firefighting crews attempting to extinguish a fire in a damaged high-rise building next to a river, according to Reuters. 

President Volodymyr Zelensky also expressed his concern, stating, "Unfortunately, there are damages... The most significant ones are in the south of the country. Russian terrorists have once again attacked ports, grain, and global food security."

Izmail was the primary target of the attack, and sources cited by Reuters described the level of damage as "serious." 

The port, located across the river from Romania, has served as the main alternative route for Ukraine's grain exports since Russia imposed a de facto blockade of Ukraine's Black Sea ports in mid-July.

Following the attack on Wednesday, Chicago wheat prices rose by 4%, leading traders to worry about potential impacts on global supplies if Ukraine is forced out of the market, according to the news agency Reuters. 

In a video statement, Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Volunteer Army South, part of Ukraine's armed forces, emphasized, "The enemy... is trying to destroy Ukrainian grain, attacking industrial and port infrastructure. Unfortunately, there are hits, unfortunately, the silo was damaged, and fires broke out at the site."

He further asserted, "Russia is trying to cut Ukraine out of the future grain agreement and, most importantly, to strategically displace our country from the global food market." Before Russia withdrew from the Black Sea deal, Ukraine's Danube river ports accounted for around a quarter of grain exports. Since then, they have become the main route, with grain loaded onto barges and shipped to Romania's Black Sea port of Constanta for further shipment.

Ukrainian media reported that several foreign cargo ships had arrived directly at Izmail from the Black Sea on Sunday for the first time since the grain deal's expiration. However, Moscow has warned that it will treat ships heading to Ukrainian seaports as potential military targets. Kyiv has expressed hope that ships will continue to return, but so far, they have not done so, according to Reuters.