Moscow Suspends Food Pact Over Kiev’s Attack on Ships

Moscow suspends indefinitely its participation in the food agreement after Kiev attacked ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships participating in its implementation.

"In view of the terrorist act carried out by the Kiev regime on October 29 this year with the participation of British experts against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian ships involved in the security of the grain corridor, the Russian side suspends its participation in the implementation of the agreements on the export of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports," the statement reads.

For his part, the spokesman for the UN Secretary General, Stephane Dujarric, confirmed that the organization maintains contact with Russia following its decision to suspend participation in the pact.

"We have seen the messages from the Russian Federation on the suspension of its participation in the Black Sea Grain Initiative following the attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet. We are in contact with the Russian authorities on the issue," he commented.

On October 29, Russian forces deployed in Sevastopol repelled Ukrainian air and sea drone attacks, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. In the words of the governor of the city, Mikhail Razvozhayev, it was the most massive attack on the city since the beginning of the Russian special operation.

The Russian Defense Ministry stated that it was a terrorist attack by Kiev against Black Sea Fleet ships and civilian vessels. It further noted that British Navy officers were involved in the planning of the attack.

The Ministry also stressed that the Black Sea Fleet vessels that suffered the attack were securing a grain corridor used to export agricultural products from Ukrainian ports.

On July 22, Russia, Turkey and the UN signed an agreement in Istanbul to unblock grain and fertilizer exports from Ukraine amid hostilities. The Ukrainian government representatives signed a similar document with Ankara and UN representatives.

In addition, Russia signed with the UN a memorandum to facilitate the export of Russian fertilizers and agricultural products to international markets.

Within the framework of the so-called Black Sea Grain Initiative, a Joint Coordination Center was set up in Istanbul to ensure the safety of bulk carriers transporting grain from Ukraine and to carry out the necessary inspections.

Last August 1, after a break of more than five months, the first ship loaded with Ukrainian grain left the port of Odessa. From August 1 to October 23, according to the Joint Coordination Center, 383 ships brought out more than 8.6 million tons of grain and other foodstuffs from Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, commenting on the Black Sea Grain Initiative, lamented that the bulk of these supplies are destined for the European Union rather than poorer nations.