(KYIV, UKRAINE) – Global food security faces a renewed threat from Russian actions blocking grain shipments from the Black Sea region, with several import dependent nations across the Middle East and North Africa at risk of rising food costs.
President Volodymyr Zelensky said in a video address that deliberate Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports and agricultural enterprises form part of a calculated strategy to disrupt food supply chains. He noted that similar tactics in 2022 caused food security crises in multiple regions.
Zelensky stated he had spoken with Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces Mykhailo Drapatyi about the frontline situation, with particular attention to the Donetsk region. The discussions also covered long range operations and missile strikes, with continued pressure on Russian forces planned.
The President said he had scheduled a meeting with the Commander in Chief and Defence Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss these operations further. The focus remains on maintaining military pressure while protecting civilian infrastructure.
Daily reports from the Sumy region and other areas detail the consequences of Russian strikes on ordinary agricultural enterprises and bread production facilities, Zelensky said. He described this as a deliberate Russian tactic.
The Foreign Ministry of Ukraine has been instructed to inform all partners and representatives of international organisations about the effects of Russian attacks against ports and the agricultural sector. This diplomatic push aims to build international awareness of the threat to food supply routes.
Zelensky recalled the events of 2022 when Russian aggression placed food security in various parts of the world under threat. The Middle East, North Africa and many other regions experienced severe disruption to grain supplies and price stability.
The current blocking of grain exports from the Black Sea region could again hit the cost of living in countries such as Egypt, Libya and others that depend on imports of grain and grain processing products, Zelensky said. These nations rely heavily on Ukrainian agricultural exports to meet domestic consumption needs.
Egypt typically imports around 5 million tonnes of Ukrainian grain annually, valued at approximately $1.2 billion (around £940 million or €1.1 billion) at current market prices. Libya also sources a significant portion of its wheat and maize from Black Sea suppliers.
Zelensky said Ukraine is preparing to counter the Russian blockade and will coordinate closely with all responsible partners who can help protect normal life from Russian aggression. International cooperation on maritime security and alternative export routes forms part of this preparation.
The warning follows a recent incident in which a civilian vessel sailing under the flag of Palau was attacked twice by Russian forces while departing a port in the Odesa region. The ship was carrying a cargo of maize. Two seafarers remain missing while seven crew members and a Ukrainian pilot were rescued.
Ukraine is one of the world’s leading grain and oilseed exporters, supplying markets across Asia, Africa and Europe.