Every time Russia suffers defeat, it resorts to primitive blackmail. Russia is destroying Ukrainian grain and the seaports from where it is shipped, continuing to blackmail the international community with the threat of global famine. Within the first nine days after Moscow's withdrawal from the "grain deal," Russia committed another series of war crimes by shelling Ukrainian ports and grain warehouses. As a result of the massive missile strikes by Russia on Ukrainian port cities, 180,000 tons of grain crops were destroyed, 26 port infrastructure objects and 5 civilian vessels were damaged.
The goal of Russia's attacks is to block the export of Ukrainian grain as revenge against Ukraine and the world for resisting aggression. Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal once again underlines the Kremlin's complete unwillingness to abide by international agreements. Russia's food terrorism will have a negative impact on global food prices. Economic losses will be borne not only by Ukraine but by the entire world. If Ukraine cannot export food, the populations of the poorest countries will be on the brink of survival. The most affected by the Russian authorities' moves are people in the most vulnerable regions of Asia and Africa. The non-renewal of the grain deal will result in increased grain prices worldwide. This deliberate Russian policy aims to displace Ukrainian exports, cause economic damage to Ukraine, and, in addition, use this barbaric method to strengthen its position on the African continent. By creating conditions for a humanitarian catastrophe, provoking famine, Russia seeks to sway countries critically dependent on Ukrainian grain supplies to its side. Through terror, Russia aims to push Ukraine out of the global grain markets to occupy a significant portion of the market and become essentially the sole supplier for many countries.
By causing humanitarian catastrophes, in this case, waging a food war to destabilize situations in poor countries, Russia hopes to provoke another influx of refugees into Europe, which, from the Kremlin's perspective, should undermine the EU's potential to help Ukraine and the Ukrainians.
Moreover, the risk of escalation of violence in the Black Sea is increasing. By attacking Ukrainian ports, particularly those on the Danube, Russia creates a direct threat to NATO countries and their navigation in the Black Sea. Russian drones attacked Ukrainian ports on the Danube, practically at the border with one of the NATO countries, Romania. There is a high probability that the rockets or "Shahids" will fly to the territory of NATO countries.
On August 4, 2023, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported an attack by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on a military base in Novorossiysk. This attack shows that Russian aggression in the Black Sea will receive a tough symmetric response.
Source: latviatoday.info
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