According to the pro-Russian government in the Zaporizhzhya region of southeastern Ukraine, large quantities of grain are exported. “More than 100 wagons have already been shipped and another 150,000-ton contract has been signed with a grain merchant,” the head of Russia’s military administration in Zaporizhia, Yevgeny Belitzky, said on his Telegram channel on Saturday. Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain for months.
Belitzki gave no information about where to take the grain. The grain can only be transported by rail to Russia or to the Crimean peninsula, which Russia has annexed since 2014. According to Ukrainian sources, about 70 tons of grain can be transported in a typical local rail car. According to Belitzki, in addition to rail transport, shipping by sea is also planned. “About 100,000 tons will be exported through the seaport of Berdyansk,” he announced.
“Grain capital” actually under control of Kiev
After Russia invaded Ukraine in February, Russia quickly captured the southern part of the Zaporizhzhya region, including the port of Berdyansk on the Sea of Azov. However, the advance to the north was halted, leaving the regional capital Zaporizhia itself under Kiev control.
Before the war, Ukraine was one of the largest grain exporters in the world. According to information from Kiev, more than 20 million tons of Ukrainian grain are trapped in the Black Sea as a result of the Russian attack and naval blockade. Ukraine is only gradually succeeding in establishing alternative export routes. The uncertainties caused by the war have made a lot of food more expensive worldwide. At the same time, according to Ukrainian sources, Russia is robbing grain stocks in the occupied territories. Moscow denies this. According to images from the American satellite operator Maxar, Russian ships have shipped Ukrainian grains to Syria, among other things.
Russia intensifies attacks in the east
Meanwhile, in eastern Ukraine, there are signs of increasing Russian attacks. This was evident on Saturday from statements by Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and information from the Ukrainian side and independent military experts.
The Kiev General Staff announced on Saturday that Ukraine had repelled Russian attack attempts toward Bakhmut and Donetsk for the past 24 hours. “After a regrouping, the enemy has resumed the attack on the Wuhlehirsk thermal power plant, the fighting continues,” it said.
The military experts at the US-based Institute for the Study of the War (ISW) also saw evidence that the fighting was intensifying. There are signs that Russian troops are putting an end to the breather they took after conquering the Sievarodonetsk/Lysychansk conurbation, the ISW analysis said Saturday. At the moment it is still a matter of minor skirmishes. “If the operational hiatus is really over, the Russians will likely continue and intensify their attacks over the next 72 hours,” the experts said.
Source: Krone
I’m Wayne Wickman, a professional journalist and author for Today Times Live. My specialty is covering global news and current events, offering readers a unique perspective on the world’s most pressing issues. I’m passionate about storytelling and helping people stay informed on the goings-on of our planet.
