This satellite image taken and published by Vantor on August 12, 2026 shows heavily damaged ships at the naval base in the Black Sea port of Novorossiysk in Russia, following Ukrainian attacks. AFP | Getty Images Ukraine launched an intense drone attack on warships and major Russian grain export terminals in the Black Sea port city of Novorossiysk, prompting Russia to warn of a disruption to global food supplies. Regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev said three people were killed in the attack, including an eight-year-old boy, while 24 others were wounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the operation against Novorossiysk as a success, saying on Wednesday that kyiv launched a unique combination of long-range drones and weapons to attack Russian fleet ships in the city’s bay area. Zelenskyy, who did not mention the grain terminals, said the Russian Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov Frigates, a large landing ship, a corvette and other vessels were hit in the attack. “Other Russian facilities that were helping to finance the war were also attacked. It is completely fair for Ukraine to respond to Russia’s war, and it is Russia that can and must end its war,” Zelenskyy said via X. Two Russian grain trading companies said they had suffered damage from the Ukrainian attack, according to multiple media reports. Russia’s Agriculture Ministry said on Wednesday it was trying to redirect cargo flows to ports in the Baltic and Caspian seas as well as land routes. Russia, the world’s largest wheat exporter, and Ukraine, also a major agricultural exporter, have been attacking each other’s export facilities and infrastructure in the Black Sea area in recent weeks, driving up global wheat prices. serves the interests of several Western countries, without providing further details. This “exacerbates grain and fertilizer shortages, raises global food prices and increases costs for countries in the Global South and East, which have become hostages to the irresponsible policies of these ‘players,'” Zakharova said, according to the TASS news agency. A view of a grain field during the early harvest season in the Rostov region of southern Russia on July 14, 2026. Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images Agricultural consultancy SovEcon said earlier in the week that Russia appeared to be on track to export between 3 million and 3.4 million metric tons of wheat this month, well below August’s five-year average of 5 million tons. He said this could represent the lowest August total since the 2016-2017 agricultural season, noting it follows a weak July. Russian forces have increased the number of missile attacks against Ukrainian cities in recent weeks, likely seeking to exploit the shortage of ballistic missile interceptors in kyiv. Choose CNBC as your preferred source on Google and never miss a moment from the most trusted name in business news.
