The Russian navy has received orders to seize the ports of Odessa and Ochakiv and has already laid mines in the Dnieper River, as a result of the Kremlin-defined blockade of Ukraine’s grain exports.
Moscow’s intentions are revealed in a report by the US Intelligence Services, quoted by The Guardian, which also shows satellite images of the destruction at Ukraine’s second largest grain export terminal – on the outskirts of Mykolaiv – following Russian missile strikes in early June. .
“The image makes it clear that the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to the destruction of three of the grain silos on the site, as well as the transportation system that loads the grain onto ships,” an Intelligence Service official said. The US says the attack reduced the terminal’s export capacity by “at least a third.”
“The United States has information that the Black Sea Fleet is under orders to blockade the Ukrainian ports of Odessa and Ochakiv,” writes The Guardian, contradicting Russian claims that the Ukrainians would have laid the mines in the ports themselves.
“We can confirm that despite Russia’s public claims that it is not trapping the northwestern Black Sea, Russia is actually laying mines in the Black Sea near Ochakiv. We also have indications that Russian forces have already booby-trapped the Dnieper River,” the US writes.
The US Intelligence Service official recalls that “Ukraine’s maritime exports are vital to global food security” and that “the impact of Russia’s actions cannot be underestimated.” According to US accounts, Ukraine is responsible for a tenth of world grain exports, and 95% of these exports leave the country precisely through the Black Sea ports.
With the blockade on grain and fertilizer exports raising fears of a global famine threat, the Russian military attacked sunflower oil storage tanks in Mykolaiv on Wednesday.
Source: Observadora
