It is seen as crucial to curbing soaring global food prices by allowing grain exports to be shipped from Black Sea ports including Odesa. "In the context of what is currently happening with Ukrainian grain, the strike was carried out exactly where the grain is," said Yuriy Ignat, spokesperson for the Ukrainian air force. The cruise missiles were fired from warships in the Black Sea near Crimea, he added. A global food crisis has pushed some 47 million people into "acute hunger," according to the World Food Programme. Moscow has denied responsibility for the food crisis, blaming Western sanctions for slowing its own food and fertiliser exports and Ukraine for mining the approaches to its Black Sea ports.

Source: The Edge Markets July 24, 2022 09:01 UTC