Russia intends to suspend grain export deal

Russia expresses intent to suspend its participation in the agreement to ensure the continuation of Ukrainian grain exports — vital for food supplies to poor countries — linking the decision to a drone attack on Russian ships in occupied Crimea on Saturday morning. The Defense Ministry announced the move, and it was also reported by the state news agency TASS.

"Taking into account the terrorist act carried out by the Kiev regime with the participation of British experts against ships of the Black Sea fleet and civilian vessels involved in the security of grain corridors, Russia suspends its participation in the implementation of the agreement on exports of agricultural products from Ukrainian ports," the Russian Defense Ministry announced on Telegram.

The move comes a day after UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Russia and Ukraine to renew the deal that has seen more than nine million tons of grain exported from Ukraine and brought down global food prices.
The Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, accused Russia of blackmail and invented terror attacks on its own territory — an apparent response to Russian accusations that Ukraine was behind the blasts.

An adviser to Ukraine's Interior Ministry, Anton Gerashchenko, claimed in his Telegram channel that "careless handling of explosives" in occupied Crimea led to explosions aboard four warships belonging to Russia's Black Sea Fleet.

Regarding the UK, the Russian Defense Ministry also blamed British specialists based in Ochakov, Mykolaiv region for preparing a terrorist act and training Ukrainian military personnel.

It also said British navy personnel blew up the Nord Stream gas pipelines last month, without providing any evidence. Britain's Defense Ministry said the Russian claims were false and designed to distract from Russian military failures in Ukraine.