Jeddah: In a wave of drone and missile attacks early on Wednesday on the Ukrainian Black Sea port region of Odesa, Russia destroyed at least 60,000 tons of essential grain intended for export.

Concerns about the security of the world's food supply have been raised by Moscow's refusal to renew an agreement allowing the safe transit of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. The International Monetary Fund warned on Wednesday that Russia's withdrawal from the agreement threatened to drive up food prices, particularly in developing nations where Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, corn, and maize.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, "Russian terrorists absolutely deliberately targeted the infrastructure of the grain deal." "Every Russian missile is a strike on everyone in the world who wants a normal and peaceful world, not just on Ukraine,"

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The Odesa region was the target of 63 missile launches and drone attacks, according to the Ukrainian air force. It claimed that 37 of them were destroyed by air defenses, a lower percentage than usual.
Agriculture Minister Mykola Solsky claimed that 60,000 tons of grain had been lost and that a significant portion of the infrastructure for exporting grains at Chornomorsk port, southwest of Odesa, had been damaged.

Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Odesa military administration, described the attack as "very strong, truly massive."The night was "hellish."

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According to Ukraine's southern military command, Russia attacked the port infrastructure in Odesa with supersonic missiles, including the Kh-22, which was made to destroy aircraft carriers.

According to the office of Ukraine's prosecutor general, 10 civilians, including a 9-year-old boy, were hurt. Grain terminals, a commercial building, a warehouse, a mall, a residential and office building, and automobiles were all damaged. Video footage released by the emergencies ministry showed shattered warehouses with flames and smoke rising from them, as well as a residential building with broken windows.

According to the UN, "a number of ideas are being floated" to help Ukrainian grain get to international markets. Moscow's action sparked worries about escalating food costs and hunger, particularly in Africa and Asia.

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A global food crisis that was made worse by Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was addressed by the Black Sea deal, which was mediated by the UN and Turkey in July of last year.

On Wednesday, Russia reiterated its threat to attack ships. The defense ministry declared that "all Black Sea vessels sailing to Ukrainian ports will be regarded as potential carriers of military cargo." The countries flying these ships' flags will be regarded as supporting the Kyiv regime in the conflict in Ukraine.