By H. Haverstock, The Chicago Times
July 23, 2022
ODESSA — Russian missiles strike Ukraine’s port of Odessa just one day after Russia and Ukraine signed a deal to reopen Black Sea ports.
According to Ukraine military officials, Russia attacked the Odessa sea trade port with Kalibr cruise missiles. Two of the missiles were shot down by air defense forces while two missiles struck infrastructure of the port.
The landmark grain deal signed on Friday, which was brokered by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, includes the port of Odessa as well as the ports of Yuzhne and Chornomorsk, was hoped to ease the looming food crisis. Odessa has been under Russian blockade since the start of hostilities.
According to the grain deal, a coalition of Turkish, Ukrainian, and the United Station will oversee the loading of grain into cargo ships before they transit a preplanned route through the heavily mined Black Sea. Some critics have argued that Russia agreed to the deal so they can access information on unmined areas.
According to Ukraine officials, there are about 20 million tons grain waiting to be exported. It is feared that a global food crisis is eminent as hostilities between Russia and Ukraine continue.
The Chicago Times 