Assistant UN Secretary-General Miroslav Jenča stated at a meeting of the UN Security Council: “In recent weeks, we have witnessed renewed attacks by Russia on Ukrainian Black Sea ports.” He added that since September 1, shelling has damaged six civilian ships, as well as grain infrastructure in ports. As a result, wheat prices increased by more than 6% from September 1 to October 14. The insurance cost for Ukrainian exporters also increased, negatively affecting the Ukrainian agricultural sector.
The US’ Alternate Representative to the UN, Robert Wood, added that the Russian Federation is deliberately targeting Ukraine’s agriculture industry with systematic attacks, as well as the Ukrainian food supply chain, to undermine global food security for its own purposes.
“These attacks are also directed against the most vulnerable hungry strata of the population worldwide,” Wood emphasized.