“Sabotage, Act of Terror” – Moscow: The Ukrainian army blew up the ammonia pipeline

A “Ukrainian sabotage and reconnaissance group” blew up the currently unused Togliatti-Odessa ammonia pipeline, Russia’s defense ministry said Wednesday. It was an “act of terrorism” in which several civilians were injured. Ukrainian forces recaptured most of the stricken village in the northeastern region of Kharkiv last fall.

The pipeline measures a total of about 2,500 kilometers and connects the Russian city of Togliatti on the Volga with the port of the Ukrainian city of Odessa on the Black Sea. With the outbreak of war, operations were temporarily suspended. Until then, the Russian military used the pipeline to export ammonia, an important component of fertilizer. The government is demanding that the pipeline be put back into operation and is also negotiating the grain deal with Ukraine. An extension would allow millions of tons of grain to be exported from Ukraine.

Putin on Dam Square: “Barbaric act”
On Wednesday, the Kremlin also blamed the war opponent for the explosion at the Kakhovka dam. It was a “barbaric act by Kiev.” It caused an “ecological and humanitarian catastrophe on a massive scale,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

As reported, the dam on the Dnipro River in the Russian-controlled area was partially destroyed by the explosion on Tuesday evening. Large amounts of water escaped, tens of thousands of people had to be brought to safety. The two warring factions blame each other for the attack. Security services and the military are currently investigating the matter.