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(VOA)
Turkey said Russia has denied any involvement in missile strikes Saturday on the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa.
“In our contact with Russia, the Russians told us that they had absolutely nothing to do with this attack and that they were examining the issue very closely and in detail,” Defense Minister Hulusai Akar said in a statement. “The fact that such an incident took place right after the agreement we made yesterday really worried us.”
Public broadcaster Suspilne quoted the Ukrainian military as saying the missiles had not caused significant damage, and a government minister said preparations continued to restart grain exports from the country’s Black Sea ports, according to Reuters.
Related: ‘Heavy fighting’ in Ukraine, reports Britain’s defense ministry
Earlier Saturday, Ukraine said Russia attacked Odesa with Kalibr cruise missiles, just one day after both countries had signed an agreement to allow grain exports to move safely out of Black Sea locations.
“Two missiles were shot down by air defense forces; two hit the infrastructure of the port,” Ukraine’s Operational Command South posted on Telegram.
The strikes drew strong condemnation by the U.N., U.S. and Kyiv.
“Yesterday, all parties made clear commitments on the global stage to ensure the safe movement of Ukrainian grain and related products to global markets,” U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in a statement delivered by spokesman Farhan Haq.
“These products are desperately needed to address the global food crisis and ease the suffering of millions of people in need around the globe. Full implementation by the Russian Federation, Ukraine and Turkey is imperative.
U.S. Ambassador to Kyiv Bridget Brink called the strike “outrageous.”
“The Kremlin continues to weaponize food. Russia must be held to account,” she posted on Twitter.
EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called Russia’s actions “reprehensible.”
“Striking a target crucial for grain export a day after the signature of Istanbul agreements…demonstrates Russia’s total disregard for international law and commitments,” he said.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the Russian strike on Odesa demonstrates that Moscow will find ways not to implement the grain deal struck with the United Nations, Turkey and Ukraine.
“This proves only one thing: no matter what Russia says and promises, it will find ways not to implement it,” Zelenskyy said in a video posted on Telegram.
Russia has yet to issue any official comment
A Russian defense ministry statement on Saturday outlining progress in the war made no mention of any strike in Odesa.
However, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova reposted the U.N. condemnation and said: “It is awful that UN Secretary General Antonio Gutteres does not ‘unequivocally’ condemn also the Kyiv regime’s killing of children in Donbas.”
