Shelling of the port: one step forward and two steps back

Opinions of the parties to the “Grain Corridor” Agreement differed regarding the morning attack on the Odesa port. And the military administration has already reported on the wounded as a result of a missile attack on the port.

“Today, the next day after the signing of the grain export agreement, russia attacked the port of Odesa with Kalibr missiles. “Unfortunately, there are wounded,” said the head of the Regional Military Administration Maksym Marchenko.

It is known that the missile hit the cargo area, the pumping station was damaged.

Let us remind you that the port was hit twice, and two more missiles knocked down the air defense forces.

The President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that the attack on the port proved that moscow will find ways not to fulfill the grain agreement concluded with the UN, Turkey and Ukraine.

“This proves only one thing: whatever russia says and promises, it will find ways not to fulfill it,” Zelenskyy said.

Later, at a meeting with a delegation of US congressmen, he noted that precisely because of russia’s reluctance to fulfill agreements, Ukraine cannot be a country where there is a “frozen” war.

On the part of the UN, comments on the attack were restrainedly negative. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the following:

“I unreservedly condemn the russian missile attack on the commercial port in Odesa. Yesterday, all parties clearly assumed obligations on the world stage to ensure the safe movement of Ukrainian grain and related products to world markets.”

As for Turkey, official Ankara decided to take a conditionally neutral position “until the final establishment of all facts.” At the same time, the country’s leadership does not question the russian lie about its non-involvement in the attack.

Thus, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar noted: “In the contact we established with russia, the Russians told us that they have absolutely no relation to this attack and that they are studying the issue very carefully and in detail.” Such a statement by Akar was published by the official press -service.

However, the Ministry of Defense of Turkey also claims that Ankara is “concerned by the incident that occurred immediately after the signing of the agreement on the shipment of Ukrainian grain.”

“We continue to fulfill our obligations within the framework of the agreement we reached,” says Akar.

He said that he contacted the Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznykov and the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine Oleksandr Kubrakov and found out that the rockets hit near the grain bunker.

At the same time, the russians once again use the “they-are-not-there” tactics. Several lines are used at once:

⁃ russia is not involved in the shelling;

 ⁃ there were no negative consequences;

 ⁃ explosions did not hit the grain.

And while politicians and diplomats decide how much they are concerned about missile attacks, Ukraine’s shipping industry is “hanging”. Ports and terminals are under constant threat of incessant shelling. Domestic operating companies are unlikely to ship grain under russian fire. Not to mention shipowners, among whom riskiness is considered a critical disadvantage rather than an asset. Insurers are also in no hurry to calculate rates for the war risk zone without guarantees, and what can be a sufficient guarantee for them now is a big question.

Even if there are brave people ready to send a ship with a crew to a Ukrainian port, it will cost a huge amount, which will eventually fall on the shoulders of the agricultural sector. Farmers will actually give away grain for free, which is not at all the fact that they will deliver it.

In fact, there is only one way to open the sea export of grain from Ukraine. And it provides full security of ports, ships and their cargoes. And this method is a victory over russia. Therefore, there is only one task: to destroy the enemy. Completely and without any chance of return. All other options are just words. And, fortunately, they do not affect the success of the Armed Forces in any way.