1. Skip to content
  2. Skip to main menu
  3. Skip to more DW sites
ConflictsUkraine

Ukraine updates: Russia strikes grain route near Romania

Published August 2, 2023last updated August 3, 2023

Russian forces have again sent fleets of drones over major Ukrainian cities. There was reported damage to port facilities on the Danube River as Russia continues to target grain infrastructure. Follow DW for more.

https://p.dw.com/p/4UfLZ
In this photo provided by regional Governor Oleh Kiper rescuers work on a scene of drone attack in Odesa region, Ukraine, early Wednesday
Russia has repeatedly targeted the Ukrainian port city of Odesa since Moscow's refusal to renew the Black Sea grain dealImage: Telegram/Oleh Kiper/AP/picture alliance
Skip next section What you need to know

What you need to know

Russian drone attacks hit the Ukrainian port city of Izmail on the Danube River, causing damage to port infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities say. Izmail has been Ukraine's main export route for agricultural products since Russia's exit from the Black Sea grain deal.

The attacks come a day after Russia said it brought down Ukrainian drones targeting Moscow, Russian-held Crimea and vessels in the Black Sea.

Meanwhile, Russia started naval drills in the Baltic Sea and Poland accused Belarussian helicopters of violating its airspace. 

Here's an overview of some of the main stories concerning Russia's war in Ukraine on Wednesday, August 2:

Skip next section Russia restricts air and sea traffic in Kerch Strait
August 3, 2023

Russia restricts air and sea traffic in Kerch Strait

Russia's defense ministry says it had placed restrictions on the movement of ships and aircraft in the Kerch Strait, which separates Russia from the occupied Crimean Peninsula. 

The ministry gave no reason for the tightening security in the body of water, which connects the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

Passage through the strait is not allowed in an area marked as "temporarily dangerous" for ships, except for vessels traveling during the daytime in officially recommended routes.

Russian Navy and Border Guard watercraft can still move freely, according to the statement. The ministry also said that airspace over the area was closed.

Russia blames Ukraine for deadly attack on Kerch Bridge

The Crimea Bridge, which spans the waterway, was damaged last month in what Russia said was a Ukrainian drone attack.  

https://p.dw.com/p/4Uhv5
Skip next section Operations suspended at Izmail port after drone strikes — report
August 2, 2023

Operations suspended at Izmail port after drone strikes — report

Operations were suspended at the Danube port of Izmail after Russian drone strikes damaged some of its structures, Reuters news agency reported.

The port, in Ukraine's Odesa region near the border with NATO member Romania, served as the main alternative route for shipping grain supplies from Ukrainian ports to the rest of the world after the collapse of the Black Sea grain deal.

Ukrainian deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov wrote the strikes "attacked warehouses and grain elevators — almost 40 thousand tons of grain were damaged, which was expected by the countries of Africa, China and Israel."

The Ukraine grain deal allowed Kyiv to safely ship agricultural products to the rest of the world, especially developing countries in Africa.

But Russia exited the deal in July. The Kremlin said Wednesday it was willing to return to the agreement if its interests are upheld. These interests include lifting barriers on payments and logistics for shipments.

Grain exports: What is Ukraine's plan B?

https://p.dw.com/p/4UgCE
Skip next section Erdogan emphasizes Black Sea grain deal renewal in phone call with Putin
August 2, 2023

Erdogan emphasizes Black Sea grain deal renewal in phone call with Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin told his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan that Moscow was ready to return to Black Sea grain deal once its own conditions were met.

Turkey, which controls shipping access to the Black Sea via the Dardanelles and Bosphorus straits, had brokered the grain deal between Russia and Ukraine along with the UN. 

Moscow refused to extend the deal last month after it said Western restrictions on payments and logistics hindered shipments of Russian grain and fertilizers that were to make it to world markets as part of the deal.

Russian grain and fertilizers have not been sanctioned by the West. The grain deal allowed for the safe passage of grain shipments from Ukraine to other countries. It also contributed to reducing global food prices, which rose again after its suspension.

The Kremlin said in its readout of the phone call between the two leaders that "it was noted that in the conditions of a complete lack of progress in the implementation of the Russia part of the 'grain deal,' its further extension has lost all meaning."

Russia said it would return to the deal "as soon as the West actually fulfills its obligations to Russia" as part of the deal.

Erdogan's office said the Turkish president emphasized the importance of avoiding steps that could jeopardize the renewal of the Black Sea grain deal, which he described as a "bridge of peace."

The Turkish readout of the call also said the two leaders agreed to a visit by Putin to Turkey. 

Kenyans suffer as Russia pulls out of Ukraine grain deal

https://p.dw.com/p/4Ugam
Skip next section Russia begins naval drills in the Baltic Sea
August 2, 2023

Russia begins naval drills in the Baltic Sea

Russia began naval exercises in the Baltic Sea, the Russian Defense Ministry said Wednesday. 

The exercises, dubbed Ocean Sheild-2023, involve 30 warships, 20 support vessels and some 6,000 military personnel, according to a statement by the ministry.

The Russian Navy will operate together to "protect sea lanes, transport troops and military cargo, and defend the coastline," the statement said.

Moscow regularly holds naval drills in the Baltic Sea in response to NATO exercises.

The Russian Baltic Sea Fleet is based in the heavily militarized Kaliningrad enclave on the southern coast of the Baltic sea.

https://p.dw.com/p/4UgXo
Skip next section Poland says Belarus helicopters violated its airspace
August 2, 2023

Poland says Belarus helicopters violated its airspace

The Polish Defense Ministry has accused Belarus of deliberately violating Polish airspace

"This is absolutely dangerous. If such situations occur and escalate, our response will be commensurate with the potential danger," Poland's PAP news agency quoted Deputy Defense Minister Wojciech Skurkiewicz as saying.

The Polish Defense Ministry said that Belarusian attack helicopters had flown through Polish airspace near Bialowieza on Tuesday morning. 

Poland, a NATO member, has informed the security alliance about the incident and has decided to move more military units to the border with Belarus in the east. 

Additional helicopters are also to be stationed there, Skurkiewicz said.

The alleged incursion comes as Poland is concerned about the activities of Russia's Wagner mercenary group in Belarus. 

"We have said that we expect provocations, and this was a short-term provocation," said Polish Deputy Interior Minister Maciej Wasik.

The Belarusian Defense Ministry has rejected the allegations, state news agency Belta reported.

https://p.dw.com/p/4UgF8
Skip next section Russian strikes on Danube ports 'unacceptable,' Romania says
August 2, 2023

Russian strikes on Danube ports 'unacceptable,' Romania says

Romania's President Klaus Iohannis said Russia's repeated attacks on ports on the Danube river was "unacceptable."

The ports lie on Ukraine's border with Romania and have become crucial for grain supplies following Russia's withdrawal from the Black Sea grain deal.

"Russia's continued attacks against the Ukrainian civilian infrastructure on [the] Danube, in the proximity of Romania, are unacceptable," Iohannis wrote.

 

https://p.dw.com/p/4Ug33
Skip next section Turkmenistan Airlines suspends Moscow flights over drone concerns
August 2, 2023

Turkmenistan Airlines suspends Moscow flights over drone concerns

Turkmenistan's flagship airline said on Wednesday it would fly to the Russian city of Kazan rather than Moscow, citing safety concerns after Ukrainian drone attacks on the Russian capital.

"Due to the situation in the Moscow air zone, and based on a risk assessment in order to ensure flight safety, all Turkmenistan Airlines flights on the Ashgabat-Moscow-Ashgabat
route will be suspended," the airline said in a statement.

Kazan is more than 700 kilometers (440 miles) east of Moscow.

Russia said it had downed several Ukrainian zones near and above Moscow in the past few days, with one building housing three ministries struck on Tuesday for a second time in two days.

Ukraine has not claimed direct responsibility for the attacks despite saying that they are a just retribution for Russia's unprovoked invasion.

One of Moscow's airports, Vnukovo, briefly closed because of the drone attacks but has now resumed full operations.

An A330 aircraft belonging to Turkmenistan airlines
Turkmenistan airlines is diverting flights from Moscow over safety concernsImage: Wolfgang Minich/picture alliance
https://p.dw.com/p/4Ufxl
Skip next section Russian drones hit Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail
August 2, 2023

Russian drones hit Ukrainian Danube port of Izmail

Granary in Izmail
Izmail is an important export hub for Ukrainian grainImage: AFP

Russian drones have reportedly caused serious damage at the Ukrainian port of Izmail as Moscow steps up its attacks on its neighbor's agricultural and port infrastructure following its withdrawal from a deal allowing the export of Ukrainian grain.

"Another elevator in the port of Izmail, Odesa region, was damaged by Russians. Ukrainian grain has the potential to feed millions of people worldwide," the Ukrainian Defense Ministry wrote on the messaging platform X, formerly known as Twitter.

Izmail, located on the River Danube directly on the border to NATO member Romania, is a key port for grain export from Ukraine that allows the produce to be transported by barge to the Romanian Black Sea port of Constanta for shipment onward.

Several grain warehouses at the port were destroyed by a previous Russian attack in late July.

https://p.dw.com/p/4UfjZ
Skip next section Russia likely needs mandatory mobilization for any new army: UK intelligence
August 2, 2023

Russia likely needs mandatory mobilization for any new army: UK intelligence

 Mobile recruitment center in Rostov-on-Don
Russia has boosted its efforts to recruit people to join its armed forcesImage: Sergey Pivovarov/REUTERS

Russia has "likely started forming up major new formations to add depth to its ground forces," the British Ministry of Defence has said in its latest intelligence update.

It said Moscow would probably use any such new formation as a reserve force in Ukraine, having until now "mainly deployed mobilized reservists to back-fill established formations."

However, "without a major new wave of mandatory mobilization, Russia is unlikely to find enough new troops to resource even one new army," the update added. 

Russia recently increased the age range of those eligible for conscription in what some see as possible preparatory move for a major mobilization.

Last year, Russia announced an ambitious plan to boost its professional and conscripted combat personnel by more than 30% to 1.5 million.  

 

https://p.dw.com/p/4UfaU
Skip next section Russian drone attacks hit Kyiv, Odesa
August 2, 2023

Russian drone attacks hit Kyiv, Odesa

 Smoke rising in the sky over Kyiv
Ukraine said it had shot down all the drones sent over KyivImage: GLEB GARANICH/REUTERS

Russian drone attacks hit the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and the southern Black Sea port of Odesa overnight to Wednesday, with no casualties but some infrastructure damage reported, Ukrainian authorities say.

The Kyiv military administration said all the so-called kamikaze drones used in the attack on the capital had been destroyed by Ukrainian air defenses, according to Ukrainian news agency Ukrinform.

Ukrinform cited the head of the administration, Serhiy Popko, as saying there were no casualties or serious damage from the attack, which he said used Iranian-made Shahed drones from various directions.

 "Groups of drones entered Kyiv simultaneously from several directions. However, all air targets — more than 10 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) — were detected and destroyed in time by the forces and means of air defense," Popko said.

In Odesa, Shahed drones launched from the Sea of Azov through the Black Sea were reported to have damaged port infrastructure. 

The regional governor Oleg Kiper said there were no reports of casualties.

 "The enemy's obvious target was the port and industrial infrastructure of the region. Air defense forces worked non-stop for almost 3 hours," the Operational Command South wrote on Telegram.

Russia has been carrying out frequent attacks on Odesa, a major port, since Moscow withdrew from a grain deal last month that allowed Kyiv's exports despite the war. 

Odesa struggles to rebuild after Russian strikes

tj/wmr (dpa, AFP, Reuters, AP)

https://p.dw.com/p/4UfQm