Ukraine to Aid Farmers Hit by Russian Attacks

Ukraine will provide assistance to farmers affected by Russian attacks on ports and shipping, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday. The measures will begin to be implemented in the coming days.

The aid will include subsidized loans and other forms of financing and will focus on farmers who, according to Zelensky, are in a difficult situation because of attacks on Ukrainian ports and the maritime corridor.

Russia and Ukraine, both major agricultural exporters, have in recent weeks attacked each other’s export infrastructure and commercial vessels in the Black Sea region.

A Russian attack in Ukraine’s Black Sea region on Thursday damaged a ship flying the flag of Guinea-Bissau and carrying wheat. One crew member was killed and a fire broke out on board.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha warned that attacks on civilian vessels and the maritime corridor could again have severe consequences for global food security. Agriculture Minister Taras Vysotskyi said alternative grain export routes would not reach the required capacity until the end of August at the earliest and would cover only half the volumes previously handled by Black Sea ports disrupted by Russian attacks.

(Reuters, lud)