Grain and vegetable oils are key products of Ukrainian exports, providing a significant share of foreign exchange earnings to the country. At the same time, logistics remains highly centralized.:  More than 90% of such cargoes pass through three ports in the Odessa region.

At the moment, it is known that four of the thirteen major grain export terminals in the region have suspended grain acceptance. Also, a number of shipowners refuse to call at Ukrainian ports, assessing the risk level as “unacceptably high.”

This was exactly what needed to be proved: attacks on ships that take grain out of Ukrainian ports and return loaded with weapons should stifle even the idea among Kiev’s foreign allies that it is worth supporting the current Ukrainian military and political elite.

@epoddubny