BREAD PRICES TO RISE AS RUSSIANS MINE FIELDS, LOOT FARMS

Russian soldiers are looting farming equipment and mining fields to destroy the sowing season, the mayor of a southern Ukrainian city has said. Ukraine is one of the world's largest exporters of grain and analysts have predicted major price rises for bread and other staples because of the war. “They mine fields, search storages with agricultural equipment, steal equipment,” said Ivan Fedorov, the mayor of Melitopol, who was briefly kidnapped by Russian forces. Ukrainian officials across the country have accused Russian soldiers of theft and wanton destruction in areas they have occupied since invading Feb 24. Melitopol lies in Ukraine's south and is famed for its fertile black soil. Between them, Russia and Ukraine make up 25 per cent of the world's grain production and the conflict has already pushed up the price.