Russian attacks cut Ukraine grain exports by 75%
Russian attacks on Ukraine's Black Sea ports have cut grain exports by 75% in the first two weeks of August, after roughly 70 strikes on ships and infrastructure.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Russian military strikes on Ukraine's Black Sea port infrastructure have drastically reduced the country's ability to export grain, with officials reporting a 75% drop in exports for the first two weeks of August compared with the same period last year. The attacks, which number around 70 recent strikes on ships and infrastructure, have targeted the main ports of Odesa, Pivdennyi and Chornomorsk.
Oleg Gragoryuk, chairman of the Marine Transport Workers Trade Union of Ukraine, described the situation as "extremely, extremely dramatic and tragic". He said drones and missiles are launched every night and every day, directed at the port facilities and the vessels and workers there. The attacks have created severe danger for port workers, seafarers and merchant vessels.
Despite the blockade attempts, Gragoryuk said three or four vessels are still coming in and out each day, citing confirmation from President Zelensky. He acknowledged the blockade is not complete, but stressed that the scale of attacks is growing. The union is providing social and mental support to members and pressing the Ministry of Infrastructure to ensure sufficient shelters at the piers.
Gragoryuk highlighted the huge stress placed on workers and their families, but insisted that Ukrainian resilience remains strong. He warned that the whole world depends on Ukrainian grain exports and that continued escalation threatens the global supply chain. He urged companies running port terminals and the ministry to take all possible measures to reduce risks for workers, even as expectations grow that attacks will continue.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | BBC News |
|---|---|
| There have been approximately 70 attacks on ships and infrastructure. | |
| Three or four vessels are still entering and leaving Ukrainian Black Sea ports each day. | |
| Ukraine's grain exports in the first two weeks of August were 75% lower than in the same period the previous year. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The BBC focused on the human and trade union perspective, interviewing Oleg Gragoryuk about the dangers faced by port workers and seafarers, the resilience of Ukrainians, and the wider global food supply implications. It highlighted the daily strikes and the limited number of vessels still moving, with a tone of concerned but measured reporting.
- “It's extremely, extremely dramatic and tragic all the time.”
- “The whole world is relying on our exports of grains and the expectations are that we will keep on going, but again, the level of escalation is huge.”
- “Extremely difficult, extremely stressful, but the Ukrainians can resist and the level of our resilience is huge.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.