Prime Minister Keir Starmer has warned that Russia is stepping up attacks on Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, delaying agricultural exports including aid for Palestinians caught up in the conflict with Israel.
During several days of airstrikes in early October, Russian weapons attacked at least four cargo ships, including one reportedly carrying 6,000 tons of corn.
Lord Keir said Russian President Vladimir Putin was prepared to “bet global food security in an attempt to bring Ukraine to its knees”.
The Prime Minister’s remarks were made during a visit to the Pacific Islands of Samoa for a federal government summit.
During the multi-day attack, a Russian missile attack in the Odessa region hit a Panamanian-flagged vessel and a Palauan-flagged cargo ship, killing one crew member.
In the southern city of Zaporizhia, 29 homes were destroyed and several people injured, and photos released by local authorities showed a huge crater in the mud, with bricks and wood strewn around it. are.
The series of attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports coincided with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s tour of Europe, visiting leaders in London, Paris, Rome and Berlin.
But Sir Keir pointed out that the increase in Russian attacks coincided with the harvest season.
Despite the war, Ukraine remains an important supplier of agricultural products.
But British intelligence has suggested what officials call Russia’s “risk appetite” is increasing when attacking Ukrainian ports, with grain ships becoming what it calls “collateral damage” in Russian operations. There is.
Sir Keir said the “indiscriminate attacks” were “harming millions of vulnerable people across Africa, Asia and the Middle East”.
According to Ukrainian statistics, more than 20 civilian ships have been damaged by Russian attacks since the war began in 2022.
Grain silos and other port infrastructure have also been severely damaged.
However, after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea grain agreement last year, Ukraine succeeded in creating a maritime corridor to ensure the security of grain exports.
According to Kyiv’s Ministry of Agriculture, around 962,000 tons of grain were exported in the first 10 days of October, double the amount shipped during the same period last year.
Sir Keir told journalists who accompanied him to Samoa that Russia’s recent recruitment of troops from North Korea was “an act of shame and desperation”.
On Tuesday, the British government announced it would provide an additional £2.26 billion to Ukraine, drawing on profits from Russian assets held in Europe.
This lump sum is in addition to the £3 billion already pledged by the government to fund Ukraine’s war.
The UK has provided more than £12 billion in military aid to date and has pledged to provide a similar level of support in the future.
Prime Minister Rachel Reeves announced the funding, saying it showed Britain’s support for Ukraine was “unwavering and will be maintained for as long as necessary”.
