Russia Escalates Black Sea Offensive, Killing 3 in Odesa as Port Strikes Hit Grain Exports
Updated
Updated · Foreign Policy · Jul 15
Russia Escalates Black Sea Offensive, Killing 3 in Odesa as Port Strikes Hit Grain Exports
3 articles · Updated · Foreign Policy · Jul 15
Summary
A fifth straight day of Russian strikes hit Odesa with missiles and drones, damaging civilian, industrial and port infrastructure and killing at least three people in a seven-story residential building.
The Black Sea assault is aimed at choking Ukraine’s wartime economy: Odesa is a key grain-export hub, and repeated attacks have already halted some shipping operations.
Kernel, Ukraine’s top grain exporter, suspended activity at Chornomorsk port after earlier strikes damaged about 45,000 metric tons of wheat and 9,000 metric tons of sunflower oil.
Volodymyr Zelensky responded by pushing a cabinet reshuffle centered on winter energy security, naming Naftogaz chief Sergii Koretskyi as his preferred prime minister before a parliamentary vote Thursday.
Kyiv is also widening its counterpressure campaign, striking Russia’s 10 million-ton-a-year Salavat refinery on Monday and hitting 20 Russian vessels in the Black Sea on Wednesday.