Ukraine's Farmers Stuck in Limbo as Russian Attacks Block Port Exports

Volodymyr Varbanets, 76, has been farming for over 20 years in Odesa Oblast. This year's harvest is one of the best since Russia invaded Ukraine.

However, he cannot sell his wheat, barley, lentils, and peas because the ports are blocked due to Russian attacks. Normally, by late August, trucks would already be carrying his harvest from the farm to the three deep-water ports of the Greater Odesa logistics hub.

The president of the Ukrainian Ports Association Ukrport, Dmytro Barinov, describes the increase in Russian attacks on civilian commercial vessels as a systematic targeting campaign, 'ship hunting.'