KYIV (Reuters) -A Russian airstrike on key Ukrainian export infrastructure in the southern Black Sea port city of Odesa killed two people and wounded six more, including two foreigners, Ukrainian officials said on Thursday.
About 90% of all Ukrainian exports are shipped to foreign markets through the ports of the Odesa seaport hub, including millions of tonnes of grain and metals.
“Today, an Iskander missile hit one of the berths of the Odesa seaport. At the time, people were working at the berth, unloading metal from a foreign vessel flying the flag of São Tomé and Príncipe,” Ukrainian deputy Prime Minister Oleksiy Kuleba said on the Telegram messenger.
He said berthing facilities for bulk carriers, port cranes, cars and warehouses were damaged.
Kuleba said two people were killed – a docker-mechanic and a truck driver. Six more people were injured, including two Syrian citizens and members of the crew of a civilian ship.
“This is not an isolated incident; rather, it is part of Russia’s targeted campaign against Ukraine’s economy and agriculture, as well as global food security and freedom of navigation,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said on Telegram.
Russia regularly attacks Ukrainian port infrastructure and stepped up strikes after Ukraine began exporting goods through its maritime corridor along the western coast of the Black Sea. Moscow says its attacks are aimed at impeding Ukraine’s war efforts.
Ukraine created a shipping corridor in the Black Sea following the collapse of a U.N.-backed Black Sea grain export initiative in 2023 that involved Russia and had ensured the safe passage of grain ships.
Since the start of the Ukrainian sea corridor in August 2023, 101 million tonnes of food cargo, including 78.5 million tonnes of grain, have been exported by sea from Odesa ports.
(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk and Pavel Polityuk; Editing by Alex Richardson and Philippa Fletcher)
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