Putin Violates Grain Export Deal As Missiles Hit Odesa

Russian missile strikes have pounded the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa, only one day after Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement to resume important grain exports from the region, CNN's Alex Stambaugh, Jake Kwon, and Rob Picheta reported.

Photo Insert: The strikes on the Port of Odesa come only one day after Ukraine and Russia reached an agreement to resume important grain exports from the region.

According to Serhii Bratchuk, a spokesman for the Odessa military administration, two missiles struck port facilities and two were shot down by Ukraine's air defense.

According to Ukrainian parliamentarian Oleksiy Goncharenko, at least six explosions were reported in Odesa. It comes just one day after Ukrainian and Russian ministers signed a deal in Istanbul negotiated by the UN and Turkey to allow grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports, aimed at alleviating the global food crisis caused by fighting.

"This is all you have to know about ‘agreements’ with the Russians. Explosions in the seaport of #Odesa. One day after the agreement with #Turkey and #UN was signed re export of #Ukraine's #grain under which #Russia has committed not to shell the port," Solomiia Bobrovska, a Ukrainian parliament member, took to Twitter.

Bridget A. Brink, the US Ambassador to Ukraine, condemned the Russian missile strike on the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, labeling it "outrageous," and adding the Kremlin continues to "weaponize" food and must be held to account.

"That's all you need to know about deals with Russia," Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas added on Twitter. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said the bloc "strongly condemns" the attack. "Striking a target crucial for grain export a day after the signature of Istanbul agreements is particularly reprehensible & again demonstrates Russia's total disregard for international law & commitments," Borrell wrote on Twitter Saturday.

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