In a significant escalation of the Russia-Ukraine war, a Russian drone attack has struck Ukrainian port facilities at Izmail on the River Danube, perilously close to Nato member state Romania.
The strike damaged a grain warehouse, a passenger building, and a grain-loading elevator, affecting Ukraine’s ability to export grain safely across the Black Sea after Russia abandoned a UN deal.
The fire from the attack raged early on Wednesday morning, captured in alarming video footage from the Romanian side of the Danube. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned the attacks as unacceptable war crimes that affect global food security.
Ukraine’s air force thwarted multiple Russian drones heading for the Danube river, where they have two ports, Izmail and Reni. The ongoing attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure have raised concerns about food security, especially for impoverished nations in Africa and Asia.
Last week, Russian drones attacked grain warehouses in Reni, also near Romanian territory. The closure of the Black Sea to shipping has made the Danube pivotal for Ukraine’s exports, as it is one of the world’s major wheat and corn exporters.
The situation remains tense, and Russia has yet to publicly comment on the reported attacks on Ukrainian capital Kyiv.
Source: BBC
