Grain depot missile attack deepens food crisis

RUSSIA aimed to deepen the food crisis in Ukraine yesterday as its missiles destroyed a major grain warehouse.

An airstrike reduced the depot in the eastern city of Dnipro to rubble, belying Moscow’s claims it is only targeting military facilities.

Regional governor Valentyn Reznichenko said there were no reports of casualties following the strike in the city’s Synelnykivskyi district. Ukrainian MP Lesia Vasylenko said: ‘Russia continues to compromise global food security. Like blocking the Black Sea and Ukrainian ports wasn’t enough.’

Those unwilling or unable to flee eastern Ukraine are desperate for food – in besieged cities such as Mariupol, people have taken to drinking from puddles.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia wanted to spark a global food crisis by seizing his country’s entire coastline.

He added: ‘Russia does not let ships in or out, it is controlling the Black Sea.’

Ukraine’s minister of foreign affairs, Dmytro Kuleba, said: ‘Russia’s war of aggression threatens not only Ukraine but the entire world.’

Last night, an airstrike struck the southern port of Odesa.