Romania condemns Russian attacks on Ukraine's Danube ports.

Romanian President Klaus Iohannis condemned the Russian military's July 24 attacks on Ukraine's Danube ports, calling it an "escalation" in a Twitter statement[1].   "I strongly condemn the recent Russian attacks against the Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on the Danube, very close to Romania," Iohannis said. "This recent escalation poses serious risks to the security in the Black Sea." On the night of July 24, Russian forces launched Shahed-136 drones at the Danube River ports of Izmail and Reni, located in Odesa Oblast.

The ports are only 200 meters from the Romanian border. The airstrikes injured[2] several people and damaged grain storage units. Ukraine's Southern Operational Command announced[3] that Ukrainian forces shot down three  of the drones.

The drone strikes followed days of attacks[4] against Odesa's port and grain infrastructure. Russia's military aggression coincides with its withdrawal[5] from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, posing grave risks to the valuable grain corridor . In his statement condemning the attacks, Iohannis acknowledged the threat to international food supplies. "It also affects further UA grain transit and thus the global food security," he said.

The ports of Izmail and Reni are two of the last three ports[6] still operating in Ukraine. The Danube has been Ukraine's only viable grain export route since Russia terminated the grain deal.

Ukraine war latest: Russia bombards Odesa's historic center, kills 1, injures 21 Key developments on July 22-23 * Russia's latest missile attack on Odesa results in civilian casualties; damages 25 historical buildings * Black Sea security to be discussed at NATO-Ukraine Council on July 26 * Russia starts collecting intel on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, says military inte...

Chicago

Abbey Fenbert is a news editor at the Kyiv Independent.

She is a freelance writer, editor, and playwright with an MFA from Boston University.

Abbey served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ukraine from 2008-2011.

References

1. ^ statement (twitter.com)
2. ^ injured (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ announced (www.facebook.com)
4. ^ attacks (kyivindependent.com)
5. ^ withdrawal (kyivindependent.com)
6. ^ two of the last three ports (kyivindependent.com)
7. ^ Ukraine war latest: Russia bombards Odesa's historic center, kills 1, injures 21Key developments on July 22-23 * Russia's latest missile attack on Odesa results in civilian casualties; damages 25 historical buildings * Black Sea security to be discussed at NATO-Ukraine Council on July 26 * Russia starts collecting intel on Ukraine's energy infrastructure, says military inte... (kyivindependent.com)