ODESA, Ukraine — Missile strikes in Odesa continued for the second day running as Ukrainian officials reported that Russia launched drones and missiles at the Black Sea port of Odessa in an overnight attack on Monday, killing two people.
This is the latest assault on Ukraine’s vital agriculture sector as Moscow seeks to exploit divisions between Kyiv and its European neighbors over grain exports. “Approximately 60,000 tons of grain meant for export were destroyed in the strike,” said Ukrainian officials on Wednesday.
Multiple vehicles including a passenger bus was damaged in a drone strike on the second day of the attack at the Orlivka-Isakcha border crossing between Odesa Oblast in Ukraine and Romania.
Th initial attack that lasted for over an hour happened on the Jewish holy day of Yom Kippur, dedicated to introspection, prayer and asking God for forgiveness. Odesa has an approximate of 120,000 living in the city.
Russian forces reportedly struck the Hotel Odessa Hotel with a suspected P-800 Oniks missile. The hotel also serves as a military training center with local media reports saying that the hotel went up in flames.
“Granaries were destroyed and the Odesa Port was “significantly damaged” in the overnight Russian strike,” said Ukrainian Operational Command South.
Earlier in July, Russia struck Ukrainian ports, only a day after pulling out of a U.N.-backed deal for safe Black Sea grain exports. The deal enabled Ukraine’s exports to reach many countries facing the threat of hunger and the decision to attack raised concern primarily in Africa and Asia because of rising cost of food and hunger.
Russian Authorities have refuted claims that the Russian Black Sea Fleet commander Sokolov was killed during a September 22 strike on Black Sea Fleet headquarters in Sevastopol, Crimea, by publishing a footage of Sokolov attending meeting with Defense Minister Shoygu.
Edited by Virginia Van Zandt and Newsdesk Manager
