Russian drone strikes on Odesa region cause fires at port

By HANNA ARHIROVA
Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian troops hit port infrastructure in Ukraine’s Odesa region with Shahed drones overnight, the Ukrainian military reported, damaging a grain elevator and causing a fire at facilities that transport the country’s crucial grain exports. Since leaving a deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain to world markets through the city of Odesa, Russia has hammered the country’s ports with strikes. Since July 17, Russian forces have fired dozens of drones and missiles at the port of Odesa and smaller sea and river ports in the region that were used as alternative routes. As a result of the attack, a fire broke out at industrial and port facilities, and a grain elevator was damaged.