KIEV: Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of missile attack on the port of Odesa as "barbaric" as it happened just hours after Moscow and Kiev signed a historic grain export agreement.

As per the agreement reached on Friday in Istanbul, Russia promised not to attack Ukrainian ports while grain shipments were in transit. However, according to the southern command centre of the Ukrainian military, two Kalibr missiles struck the port of Odesa barely hours after the deal was signed.

The centre claimed that two other missiles were destroyed by air defence systems.

However, according to Russian officials, Moscow had "nothing to do" with the incident.

Zelensky asserted that Russia will find methods to avoid fulfilling the agreements it signs during a meeting with a delegation of US Congressmen on Saturday in Kiev, according to Ukrayinska Pravda.

"This assault merely serves to demonstrate that Russia will find methods to not carry out anything it pledges and/or declares. Geopolitically, using weapons, whether bloodily or not, but acting in a variety of ways "he said. Also, he vowed to take all necessary steps to obtain air defence systems that could later fire down such missiles. The attack has received strong condemnation.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken charged Russia with escalating the world food crisis and said the attack raised "serious doubts" about Russia's adherence to the agreement.

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