Ukrainian Drones Halt Grain Exports from Key Russian Port

Ukrainian drone strikes have brought operations at two major grain terminals in Russia's Novorossiysk to a halt, threatening global wheat exports. The attack on August 12 has caused significant damage to both terminals, which account for nearly $15.6 million metric tons of export capacity per year.

Russia is the world's largest wheat exporter, and most of its grain is shipped through its Black Sea ports like Novorossiysk. The Russian Grain Union had warned last month that continued Ukrainian drone attacks could shut down grain exports via the Black Sea in the near future, pushing up prices and causing hunger in Africa and the Middle East.

The attack has also resulted in at least two fatalities, including an eight-year-old child, according to Veniamin Kondratyev, the governor of Krasnodar region. There is no indication that oil infrastructure facilities were affected during the attacks.