Russian UAVs attack Ukraine's grain export port

Ukrainian officials said Russia used UAVs to attack several ports in Odessa province, including facilities along the Danube River.

"The enemy attacked grain storage facilities, as well as production and transit complexes in the Danube region. Fires broke out in warehouses and were quickly extinguished. Firefighters continue to work at the scene," the Ukrainian military announced on August 23.

Oleh Kiper, governor of Ukraine’s Odessa region, said the airstrike lasted three hours. The Ukrainian military later said it had shot down 11 of 20 Russian drones in the night-time raid. A Ukrainian source said ports on the Danube were the main targets.

The Russian Ministry of Defense has not released information about the above UAV attack.

Damage after a Russian airstrike on Ukraine's Danube river port on August 16. Photo: Reuters — Damage after a Russian airstrike on Ukraine's Danube river port on August 16. Photo: *Reuters*

About a quarter of Ukraine’s grain exports pass through the country’s Danube River ports after Russia announced it was withdrawing from the Black Sea Grain Initiative. The grain is then shipped by barge to the Romanian port of Constanta and then on to other destinations.

Ukraine on August 2 accused Russia of using UAVs to "raid grain warehouses" at the Danube port of Izmail in Odessa province, destroying 40,000 tons of cargo. The Russian Defense Ministry later announced that the location of the attack was a shelter for foreign mercenaries and a Ukrainian weapons depot.

On August 13, the patrol boat Vasily Bykov fired warning shots and stopped the cargo ship Sukru Okan, owned by a Turkish company but flying a Palau flag, as it headed to the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Russian helicopters then brought Russian servicemen aboard to inspect the Sukru Okan and allowed the ship to continue its journey.

The Russian Defense Ministry said its servicemen fired warning shots after the captain of the Sukru Okan failed to comply with orders to stop. Turkish officials said on August 17 that they had warned Russia to avoid similar actions to the Sukru Okan inspection to avoid escalating tensions in the Black Sea.