Russia's Attack on Southern Ukrainian Ports Leaves at Least 18 Injured

Vitaly Kim, the governor of the Mykolaiv region in southern Ukraine, reported that at least 18 people were injured following Russia's attack on the port city of Mykolaiv on Thursday, July 20. Officials from the port of Odessa in Ukraine also reported new attacks in the area. According to Reuters, the governor wrote on the Telegram messenger that a three-story residential building in the center of Mykolaiv was hit, and emergency services rescued two people from the rubble. Serhiy Bratchuk, a spokesperson for the Odessa military administration, stated, 'After the attack on Odessa, which caused damage to a building and started a fire, two people were hospitalized.' On Monday, July 17, Russia avoided extending the maritime grain export agreement under the pretext of targeting the Kerch Bridge, which connects Russian territory to the occupied Crimean Peninsula, and that evening, the Odessa port, Ukraine's main grain export terminal, was targeted by missile and drone attacks. Following Moscow's withdrawal from the agreement that guaranteed the safe passage of Ukrainian grain shipments, tensions around Ukraine's Black Sea ports have intensified. Russia has warned that ships heading to these ports from Thursday onward will be considered 'potential military targets.' This agreement, reached a year ago at the initiative of the United Nations, allowed Ukraine to export its grain via the Black Sea. Russia's exit from the agreement has raised concerns among citizens of low-income countries about a sharp increase in food prices. Russia's decision has also faced a wave of global condemnation. The U.S. representative to the United Nations accused Moscow of 'taking humanity hostage,' stating that Russia's withdrawal from the agreement with Ukraine is a 'cruel act.' Linda Thomas-Greenfield told reporters, 'While Russia is engaged in political games, real people are suffering.' Russia and Ukraine are the world's major wheat suppliers, and according to the World Food Program, the global food crisis resulting from the war between these two countries has pushed 47 million people into 'acute hunger.' Russia invaded Ukraine in February of last year, which has drawn widespread criticism globally. Meanwhile, the delivery of military drones from Tehran to Moscow and their use by Russia has led to widespread protests from the U.S., the European Union, and NATO. British intelligence officials: Iranian government officials have disagreements about aiding Russia. The U.S. claims that Russia is using wheat and food as a weapon of war. Russia's warning about rejecting the Ukrainian grain export agreement. The outcome of military cooperation with the Russians; Europe is determined to 'continue sanctions on ballistic missiles' of the Islamic Republic. Russia conducted a 'retaliatory' attack on the port of Odessa in Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported a renewed drone attack by Ukraine on Crimea.