Ukraine will continue preparing for the launch of grain exports from its ports - Ministry of Infrastructure
SATURDAY, 23 JULY 2022, 4:50 - OLEKSIY PAVLYSH
Ukraine will continue to prepare to launch the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea, despite the fact that the Russian Federation launched a missile attack on the Odesa port.
This was announced on Facebook by the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov.
"We don’t trust Russia, but we trust our partners and allies, which is why the Initiative on Safe Transport of Grain and Food from Ukrainian ports was signed with the UN and Turkey, not Russia.
This document was not a gesture of ‘good will’, but the result of the work of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, which freed Zmiinyi Island. This, in turn, was made possible by the support of our allies, who provided us with modern and effective weapons to protect the coastline. The document was signed on Ukrainian terms - no Russians in the territorial waters of Ukraine, no concessions regarding sanctions," Kubrakov wrote.
Today, Russia launched a missile attack on the territory of the Odesa port, thereby once again showing the world its true intentions. In recent months, missile strikes on infrastructure have become the enemy's second, and sometimes even first, target. Every day, dozens of missiles are directed at railways, bridges, oil storage facilities, and ports. This does not stop our work and our resistance," he added.
Kubrakov noted that the UN and Ukraine's allies and partners hope that the Istanbul initiative will be able to save not only the economy of Ukraine, but also millions of people from hunger, and billions from impoverishment.
"As always, we trust the Navy, the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and all defence forces that are ready to repel the invaders. Yesterday, no one signed the agreement on the surrender of the Russian Federation. The war did not end as someone decided.
But just as our railways continue to run and truckers deliver necessary products, medicines, and weapons to "0" positions, we will not deviate from our goal - to unblock the sea ports," the minister summarised.
Background:
Russian troops hit the port of Odesa with missiles - 2 missiles were shot down by the air defence forces, but 2 more hit the port's infrastructure facilities.
The Russians hit the Odesa seaport exactly where the grain was stored, said Yuriy Ignat, the spokesman of the Air Force Command of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
The press service of the Ministry of Agrarian Policy also reported, in a comment to "Suspilne", that there was grain in the port.
As a result of a rocket attack on the Odesa commercial port, a fire broke out in the pumping station; there was no impact on the grain storage, as reported by Operational Command "Pivden" (South).
Russian troops attacked the port of Odesa the day after the signing of a grain export agreement: on 22 July, the agreement on unblocking Ukrainian ports for the export of grain was signed in Istanbul.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine reacted to the strikes on Odesa.
According to the comment by the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Oleg Nikolenko, Ukraine is calling on the UN and Turkey to ensure that Russia complies with its obligations under the terms of the agreement on the safe functioning of the grain corridor.
Economichna Pravda
