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KYIV — Russian cruise missiles, flying low and hugging the terrain to dodge Ukrainian air defences, destroyed farm storage buildings in the Odesa region early Friday, Ukrainian officials said, as the Kremlin's forces expanded their targets following three days of bombardment of the region's Black Sea port infrastructure.
Hours later, seven Russian missiles also damaged what officials described as an "important infrastructure facility" southwest of the port city of Odesa, in what appeared to be part of an ongoing Kremlin effort to cripple Ukraine's Black Sea food exports. Officials did not immediately provide details of that attack.
During the night, two missiles struck the agricultural storage facility, starting a fire, and while workers fought to put it out another missile hit, destroying farm and firefighting equipment, the southern Odesa region's Gov. Oleh Kiper said.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]russia continues to methodically destroy the agricultural infrastructure of southern Ukraine. Last night, they launched two Kalibr missiles to destroy 100 tons of peas and 20 tons of barley belonging to an agricultural enterprise in Odesa region. Two people were injured. pic.twitter.com/gRpFt8OLWp
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) July 21, 2023
The attack injured two people and destroyed 100 metric tons of peas and 20 metric tons of barley, according to Kiper.
The attack was small-scale in comparison with barrages in recent days that put Odesa in Russia's crosshairs after Moscow tore up a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.
Russia targeted Ukrainian critical grain export infrastructure after vowing to retaliate for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.
Though Friday's strike was more muted, the recent uptick in attacks has kept people in Odesa on edge.
"The enemy is continuing terror, and it's undoubtedly related to the grain deal," said Natalia Humeniuk, a spokeswoman for the Ukrainian military's Operational Command South.
Both Russia and Ukraine have announced that they will treat ships travelling to each other's Black Sea ports as potential military targets.
The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said the recent barrages in southern Ukraine are part of an overarching strategy.
ISW said Wednesday that it believes the recent attacks were likely to reaffirm #Russia's objections to the renewal of the #BlackSea grain deal and hinder #Kyiv's ability to export agricultural commodities. @CNBCihttps://t.co/HVFxWfRVCW
— ISW (@TheStudyofWar) July 20, 2023
"The Russian military's intensifying strikes against Ukrainian port and grain infrastructure and threats of maritime escalation are likely part of a Kremlin effort to leverage Russia's exit from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and exact extensive concessions from the West," it said in an assessment late Thursday.
The Russian Defence Ministry, meanwhile, said the navy conducted drills that simulated action to seal off a section of the Black Sea.
In the manoeuvres, a missile boat fired anti-ship cruise missiles at a mock target in the northwestern part of the Black Sea.
In other developments, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has announced the resignation of the country's Culture Minister, suggesting the ministry's spending was misguided during wartime.
"Paving stones, city decorations, and fountains can wait till after the victory," he said.
The move follows a series of recent scandals related to the expenditure of local authorities across the country, such as the repair of a cobblestone road in Kyiv's city centre or a renovation of a city fountain in a western Ukraine city.
Zelenskyy also fired the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom, Vadym Prystaiko, who was also ambassador to the International Maritime Organisation. Zelenskyy gave no reason for the dismissal, but Prystaiko had publicly criticised Zelenskyy on occasions.