By Oyintari Ben
Following attacks on ships in Crimea, Russia has halted participation in a UN-mediated agreement to export agricultural products from Ukrainian ports, the defence ministry was reported to have stated on Saturday by TASS.
In the early hours of Saturday, according to Russia, Ukrainian forces targeted Black Sea Fleet ships in Sevastopol, the largest city in Russian-occupied Crimea, using drones.
The Russian side suspends participation in the implementation of agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports, the ministry said in a statement. “Taking into account… the terrorist act by the Kyiv regime with the participation of British experts against the ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in ensuring the security of the “grain corridor,” the ministry stated.
The drone strikes on Saturday, according to the ministry, were mostly repulsed with just minor damage to a Russian minesweeper.
Martin Griffiths, the head of the UN’s relief efforts, had only just on Wednesday expressed his “relative optimism” that the agreement for a resumed export of grain from Ukraine to the Black Sea would last through mid-November.
The accord of July 22 allowed Ukraine to resume grain and fertilizer exports to the Black Sea, which had been put on hold when Russia invaded its neighbour on February 24. The initial duration of the export agreement with Ukraine was 120 days.
