War in Ukraine, day 150 | Strikes on the port of Odessa, Moscow denies its involvement

(Kyiv) Russian strikes hit the port of Odessa on Saturday, Ukraine assured, accusing Vladimir Putin of having “spit in the face” of the UN and Turkey and of compromising the application of the agreement signed the day before on the resumption of grain exports blocked by the war.

Without reacting directly, Moscow denied any involvement in these strikes to Ankara

Earlier, Ukrainian air force spokesman Yuri Ignat told AFP that Russian missiles hit a grain processing plant in the port of Odessa on Saturday.

“The port of Odessa, where grain is processed for shipment, was bombed. We shot down two missiles, and two more missiles hit the port territory, where, obviously, there is grain,” Ukrainian Air Force spokesman Yuri Ignat said.

Odessa is the largest city and the most important port on the entire Black Sea coast, and as such crucial for the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports.

With these strikes, the Russian president “spit in the face of UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and Turkish President Recep [Tayyip] Erdogan, who have made enormous efforts to reach this agreement,” said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleg Nikolenko.

President Volodymyr Zelensky then accused Moscow of systematically violating its commitments: “This only proves one thing: whatever Russia says and promises, it will find ways not to implement it”.

Antonio Guterres “unequivocally” condemned these attacks, stressing that “the full implementation [de l’accord] by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative”.

“Hitting a crucial grain export target one day after the signing of the Istanbul Accords is particularly reprehensible and once again demonstrates Russia’s total disregard for international law and commitments,” reacted for his part. the head of diplomacy of the European Union, Josep Borrell on Twitter.

Moscow, however, has denied any involvement with Ankara. “The Russians told us that they had absolutely nothing to do with this attack and that they were looking into the matter very closely,” said Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar, who said he was “concerned by the strikes.

Strikes on the center

Central Ukraine was not spared either with a resumption of Russian strikes on Saturday which killed three people, after a lull in the fighting which focused on Donbass (East).

Thirteen Russian cruise missiles launched from the sea fell near the town of Kropyvnytskyi located in the Kirovograd region (Center), announced its governor Andriy Raikovych, specifying that railway infrastructure and a military airfield were targeted.

In Hungary, President Viktor Orban, close to Vladimir Putin, judged that only “Russian-American talks can put an end to the conflict, because Russia wants security guarantees” that only Washington can provide.

Before the announcement of the strikes on Odessa, the African Union had “welcomed” the agreement on grain exports on Saturday, hailing a “welcome development” for the continent which faces an increased risk of famine.

The agreement should make it possible to export between 20 and 25 million tonnes of grain blocked in Ukraine.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia – two countries which notably provide 30% of world wheat exports – has led to a surge in cereal and oil prices, hitting hard the African continent which is very dependent on these countries for its supply. .

This rise in prices has worsened the situation of countries already facing a food crisis, particularly in the Horn of Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti) which is experiencing its worst drought in 40 years.

“Responsibility of the UN”

The price of wheat fell on Friday after the agreement, even returning to its pre-war price on the American market (Chicago), while on the European market (Euronext), it remained around 16% above the price of ‘before Russia’s February 24 invasion of Ukraine.

The signing of this fiercely negotiated text under the auspices of the United Nations and Ankara took place in Istanbul in the presence in particular of Mr. Guterres and President Erdogan.

The conditions are met for its application “in the coming days”, assured Russian Minister of Defense Sergei Shoigu shortly after.

Washington, which supports Ukraine against Russian aggression, has blamed Moscow for the success of the operation. “It is now up to Russia to concretely implement this agreement”, underlined the number 3 of American diplomacy, Victoria Nuland.

As of Friday evening, Ukraine had shown itself to be circumspect.

It is now “the responsibility of the UN” to ensure compliance with the agreement, said Volodymyr Zelensky, saying he expected “provocations, attempts to discredit Ukrainian and international efforts”.

“The agreement fully corresponds to the interests of Ukraine”, he however welcomed, adding that the Ukrainian military would continue to control “100% all access to the ports”, which Russia initially demanded the demining.

Secure corridors

The main measure is the establishment of “secure corridors” to allow the movement in the Black Sea of ​​merchant ships, which Moscow and Kyiv undertake “not to attack”, explained a United Nations official.

It will be valid for “120 days”, the time to take out the millions of tons accumulated in the silos of Ukraine while a new harvest approaches.

The negotiators, however, gave up on clearing the Black Sea of ​​mines – mainly laid by the Ukrainians to protect their coasts. The UN said that “Ukrainian pilots” would clear the way for cargo ships in territorial waters.

As for the inspections of ships departing from and heading to Ukraine, demanded by Russia to prevent them from being used to bring weapons, they will take place in the ports of Istanbul.

A few hours before the signing, the Kremlin had stressed that if Ukrainian cereals had to reach world markets, it was also necessary “to allow the markets to receive additional volumes of fertilizers and cereals” from Russia, the export of which was held back by Western sanctions. And obtained the guarantee that these sanctions will not apply, either directly or indirectly, to these products.