KYIV, UKRAINE — Russia’s attacks on Ukraine’s agricultural infrastructure and ships since July have destroyed nearly 300,000 tonnes of grain, Reuters reported, citing the Ukrainian government.

Since Russia quit the Black Sea Grain Initiative in July, its military forces have hit six civilian ships and 150 port and grain facilities during 17 attacks, destroying crops headed for export, Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said in a statement.

“This is Russia's attempt to deepen the food crisis in the countries which depend on Ukrainian products,” Kubrakov said.

The damage on Ukrainian ports reduced the country's grain export potential by 40%, Kubrakov said.

Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 22, 2022, and during the first five months of the conflict established a blockade to prevent Ukraine from exporting grain on the Black Sea. Russia agreed to suspend the blockade in July 2022 when it signed a deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkish government allowing grain exports to resume. 

Russia quit the agreement this past July, saying its demand that sanctions be lifted on its grain and fertilizer exports had not been met. After reinstating the blockade, Russia began bombing Ukrainian grain assets in Black Sea ports and along the Danube River.

As of Oct. 3, Ukraine had exported 6.82 million tonnes of grain so far in the 2023-24 July-June season, down 24% from 8.99 million tonnes at the same time a year ago when the Black Sea Grain deal was in effect, according to the Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food. Ukraine is expected to harvest 79 million tonnes of grain and oilseed in 2023, with 2023-24 exportable surplus totals of about 50 million tonnes.

Ukraine is among the world's largest wheat, corn, barley and sunflower oil exporters, reigniting concerns of a global food shortage, particularly in underdeveloped nations heavily reliant on Black Sea grain.

Kubrakov said 21 grain-loaded vessels have already used a new “humanitarian” grain corridor in the Black Sea that Ukraine established in August.