At least six explosions were heard in Odessa, according to Ukrainian parliament member Oleksiy Goncharenko.
It comes a day after ministers from Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement – brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in Istanbul – to allow grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports with the aim of easing the global food crisis triggered by the war.
“That’s all you need to know about ‘agreements’ with the Russians. Explosions in the port of #Odesa. A day after the agreement was signed with #Turkey and #UN, #Ukraine’s #grain was re-exported under which #Russia was re-exported,” Verkhovna Rada Member Solomiya Bobrovska tweeted.
Prachuk advised residents to stay in shelters as weather alerts continued.
The US ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, called the Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian city of Odessa “outrageous”, saying the Kremlin continues to “weaponize” food and must be held accountable.
“This is all you need to know about deals with Russia,” Estonia’s Prime Minister Kaja Kallas added on Twitter. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said the bloc “strongly condemns” the attack.
On Saturday, Borrell wrote on Twitter: “Achieving a crucial grain export target a day after the signing of the Istanbul Accords is particularly reprehensible and shows once again Russia’s complete disregard for international law and obligations.”
So far, Russia blocks sea access to those ports, which means that millions of tons of Ukrainian grain have not been exported to the many countries that depend on them.
“Today, there is a beacon on the Black Sea. A beacon of hope – a beacon of possibility – a beacon of relief – in a world that needs it more than ever,” UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Friday. The signing ceremony, which was attended by the Ministers of Ukraine and Russia.
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