Black Sea
On Wednesday, the White House warned that Russia may expand its attacks on Ukrainian grain facilities to include attacks on civilian vessels in the Black Sea.
According to Adam Hodge, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, U.S. officials have information indicating that Russia planted additional naval mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports.
Mr. Hodge said, “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks on civilian ships in the Black Sea and blame them on Ukraine”.
Mr. Hodge stated that Russia had announced that all ships passing through Black naval seas on their way to Ukrainian ports would be considered potential bearers of military supplies and that US intelligence showed Russia had buried additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports.
“In addition to this coordinated effort in the Black Sea, we have already observed that on July 18 and 19, Russia targeted Ukraine’s grain export ports in Odesa with missiles and drones, resulting in the destruction of agricultural infrastructure and 60,000 tons of grain”, Mr. Hodge added.
Ukraine accused Russia of damaging grain export infrastructure in hellish overnight raids targeting two of its Black Sea ports on Wednesday, promising not to be frightened from striving to keep grain exports moving out of them.
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