Photo credit: Ministry for Communities and Territories Development of Ukraine
During the operation of the food export corridor in the Black Sea from July of last year to this month 321 infrastructure facilities in Ukrainian ports have been damaged by Russian missiles and Iranian drone’ strikes, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on November 23.
More than 20 vessels, ordinary civilian vessels, were also damaged in the strikes. “And we are talking about other countries’ vessels. It is not about Ukrainian vessels,” he added.
More than 60 targeted strikes were aimed specifically at food infrastructure.
“I want to remind you that the full-scale Russian invasion began, among other things, with the Russian fleet blockading Ukrainian ports. This was the starting point, and Russia was well aware of the consequences of this,” Zelenskyy noted.
In total, Ukraine’s food exports feed 400 million people in 100 countries of the world. Food prices in Egypt, Libya, Nigeria, and other countries of Africa and the African continent depend directly on the ability of farmers, Zelenskyy said, and agribusinesses in Ukraine to function properly.
This week brought new defense packages for Ukraine. Denmark committed close to a billion kroner funds that will support Ukrainian defense industry, according to Zelenskyy.
Norway has prepared the first tranche, which, following the Danish model, will support arms production, specifically production in Ukraine. Sweden will also contribute funding following Denmark’s model.
The United States has approved a $275m package, including munitions for HIMARS, as well as Javelins, drones, and mines that Ukraine urgently need to defend positions, particularly in the Donetsk region.
Germany has provided a new package as well. Furthermore, there is a new NASAMS from Canada.
