Russia attacks Ukraine grain export business

 ISW:

Russian forces launched an extensive missile and drone attack against port and grain infrastructure in southern Ukraine on July 19 likely to further emphasize Russia’s objections to the renewal of the Black Sea grain deal and hinder Ukraine’s ability to export grain. The Ukrainian General Staff reported that Russian forces conducted strikes using 16 Kalibr sea-based cruise missiles, eight Kh-22 anti-ship missiles, six Onyx cruise missiles, one Kh-59 guided air missile, and 32 Iranian-made Shahed drones.[1] Ukrainian military officials reported that Russian forces predominantly targeted civilian and military infrastructure in Odesa Oblast with Kh-22 and Onyx missiles and that Ukrainian forces shot down 37 air targets including 13 Kalibrs, one Kh-59 missile, and 23 Shaheds.[2] Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Russian forces deliberately targeted the infrastructure necessary for executing the Black Sea grain deal in Odesa, Zhytomyr, and other oblasts.[3] The Ukrainian Southern Operational Command reported that Russian forces struck grain and oil terminals and damaged tanks and loading equipment.[4] Ukrainian Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solskyi reported that Russian strikes destroyed 60,000 tons of grain in the Chornomorsk port in Odesa Oblast on the night of July 19.[5] The Southern Operational Command added that Russian strikes also targeted coastal areas in Mykolaiv Oblast and some infrastructure in Kherson City.[6] Spokesperson of the Ukrainian Southern Operational Command Captain of the First Rank Nataliya Humenyuk stated that the Russian July 19 strikes “happened virtually simultaneously,” and that Russian forces likely attempted to overwhelm the Ukrainian air defense systems.[7] Ukrainian Air Forces Spokesperson Colonel Yuriy Ihnat stated that this attack was the most intense missile and drone attack on Odesa Oblast since the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022.[8]

Russian sources, apart from the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD), claimed that Russian strikes on south Ukraine aimed to dismantle the port infrastructure necessary for the Black Sea grain deal. The Russian MoD claimed that Russian forces struck Ukrainian military infrastructure and ammunition depots in Odesa Oblast and the Kanatove Air Base in Kirovohrad Oblast.[9] Kremlin-affiliated mibloggers and former proxy officials claimed that Russian strikes damaged port infrastructure, grain storage, and industrial facilities in Odesa Oblast.[10] Some Russian ultranationalists called on the Russian MoD to authorize additional strikes to destroy Ukrainian port and grain infrastructure to ensure that no grain deals can ever be renewed.[11] One milblogger who has been routinely skeptical of the Kremlin’s war effort claimed that the Russian strike campaign is more “retaliatory” than “operationally sound” and blamed the Russian General Staff for wasting Russian efforts (and likely the dwindling stock of Russian precision weapons) on striking Ukrainian civilian infrastructure rather than military infrastructure.[12]
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These attacks appear to be in response to the attack by Ukraine on the Kerch Straight Bridge recently which made it more difficult for Russian logistic efforts in Crimea.  The attacks on civilian grain delivery operations will probably increase the opposition to the Russian war effort in countries that rely on those grain shipments.  Both sides of the Russia-Ukraine war have decided to attack the source of funding for the other's war efforts. 

See, also:

60,000 tonnes of agricultural products destroyed by Russian missiles were to be sent to China – Zelenskyy

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"This attack proves that their target is not only Ukraine, and not only the lives of our people. About a million tons of food is stored in the ports that were attacked today. This is the volume that should have been delivered to consumer countries in Africa and Asia long ago.

The port terminal that suffered the most from the Russian terror last night had 60,000 tons of agricultural products stored in it, which were intended to be shipped to China. That is, everyone is affected by this Russian terror."
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And:

 Russia attacks grain terminals in Odesa, Chornomorsk seaports overnight – photos

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“The attack on grain terminals is an act of aggression against the world,” said Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister for Communities and Territories Development and Infrastructure of Ukraine.

“Russian actions are aimed at disrupting grain supply routes to global markets. This terrorist state is not only at war with Ukraine but also with the people of Africa and Asia, for whom this grain is a matter of survival.”
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And:

 Putin's spokesman says attack on Odesa is revenge for Crimean Bridge

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Earlier on 18 July, the Russian Ministry of Defence reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation had carried out a "group retaliatory strike" using allegedly "high-precision" sea-launched weapons on facilities where they alleged "terrorist attacks against Russia were being prepared, using unmanned surface vehicles at the place of their manufacture at a ship repair plant in Odesa Oblast".

The occupiers also claimed to have destroyed fuel storage facilities near Mykolaiv and Odesa with a total volume of about 70,000 tonnes that were allegedly used to supply Ukrainian Armed Forces military equipment with fuel.
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And:

 Russia Could Attack Civilian Grain Ships in Black Sea, US Warns

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“Our information indicates that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports,” National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said in a statement. “We believe that this is a coordinated effort to justify any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea and lay blame on Ukraine.”

The warning came just days after Russia ended the Black Sea grain deal that kept cargoes flowing through the corridor. The accord marked a rare example of Russian cooperation during its war against Ukraine.

Russia’s defense ministry said that all ships headed to the ports from Thursday would be considered as potentially carrying military cargo. It also said flag countries of vessels sailing to Ukraine would be considered as taking Kyiv’s side in the war.
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And:

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