Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea have been hit by a recent spate of attacks by Russia. Thousands of tonnes of agricultural produce have been delayed as a result of at least four cargo ships being hit by Russian missile strikes, including one carrying 6,000 tonnes of corn. In addition to this, the attacks have caused substantial damage to grain silos and other vital port infrastructure. UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned that the attacks are harming millions of vulnerable people across Africa, Asia and the Middle East, as much of the produce from Ukraine aims to provide aid to these regions.
Despite these attacks, Ukraine is still a significant producer of agricultural goods. However, British intelligence suggests that there has been a growth in Russian “risk appetite” when attacking Ukrainian ports, and that grain ships are becoming “collateral damage” in Russia’s wider campaign against Ukraine. Sir Keir points out that the increasing number of Russian attacks coincides with harvest season, demonstrating Russia’s willingness to “gamble on global food security in his attempts to force Ukraine into submission.”
In addition to the attacks, criticism has been aimed at Russia’s recent recruitment of troops from North Korea, which has been referred to by Sir Keir as “an embarrassing and desperate act.” On Tuesday, the British government announced that it would offer Ukraine an additional £2.26bn, using profits from Russian assets held in Europe. This is in addition to the £3bn already pledged by the UK government to fund Ukraine’s war effort. The UK has given over £12bn in military aid so far, and has promised to match this level of support in the future.
Despite the attacks, Ukraine has been successful in creating a maritime corridor to ensure the safety of grain exports, after Moscow pulled out of a Black Sea grain deal last year. As a result, the agriculture ministry in Kyiv has reported that 962,000 tonnes of grain were exported in the first ten days of October, double the volume shipped in the same period last year. The situation remains tense, however, with more than 20 civilian ships damaged in Russian attacks since the start of the conflict in 2022
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