Operations suspended at Ukraine’s Izmail port on Danube after Russian drone strike

Operations have been suspended at Ukraine’s Izmail port on the Danube after a Russian drone strike, two industry sources told Reuters on Wednesday.

The port, across the river from NATO-member Romania, has served as the main alternative route out of Ukraine for grain exports since Russia reintroduced its de facto blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports in mid-July.

Kyiv’s infrastructure minister said Russia damaged almost 40,000 tonnes of grain in the overnight strike.

“The Russians attacked warehouses and grain elevators - almost 40,000 tonnes of grain were damaged,” Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said in an English-language post on social media.

Kubrakov added that the grain was destined for some African countries, China and Israel, and accused Russia of using Iranian drones to carry out the attack.

“These are the very ports that have become the foundation of global food security today,” he said.