Russia launches cruise missiles over Black Sea corridor - Zelenskyy

Zelenskyy reported the information during his evening video address.

"This morning, a Russian aircraft has launched cruise missiles near Zmiiny Island, which actually flew over the grain corridor routes. And every such Russian launch - and they are almost daily - directly threatens food exports. And it is the responsibility of partners to work together to reduce the Russian threat," said Zelenskyy.

The President also praised the efforts of Ukraine's partners to continue transporting food from Ukraine and called Russia a threat to global food security.

“Today, we have a significant diplomatic outcome for our country and the whole world – the Grain Export Initiative will continue being implemented. Russian blackmail has led nowhere. The UN and Secretary General Guterres personally responded in a principled and effective way. The President of Türkiye, Erdoğan, also participated. Other key international actors also made timely and fair steps. Once again, everyone saw that there is only one threat to global food security in our region, and that is the Russian Federation, and no one else. This entire situation was immediately reflected in the stock exchanges' indicators – we see some decrease in the price of both wheat and corn. Every time Russian blackmail intensifies, food prices rise. And every time the world does not give in to blackmail, foodstuffs become cheaper,” Zelenskyy empathized.

The President noted that due to Russian aggression, African and Asian countries are losing tens of billions of dollars, and tens of millions of people are suffering from a deterioration of living standards.

“And if there was no Russian attack on Ukraine, there wouldn't even be a phantom threat of the global food crisis. Because every Russian missile that hits our ports, grain storage facilities, and power plants that power our agricultural production ultimately affects the standard of living of tens of millions of people in many countries. This includes Egypt, Algeria, Somalia, Sudan, Lebanon, Bangladesh, India, China, Indonesia, Vietnam... This year they overpaid tens of billions of dollars for food – and only because of Russia, only because of crazy Russian aggression that destabilizes international trade,” concluded Zelenskyy in his statement.