The Black Sea grain route has become unstable again...What is Russia up to?

[Anchor]
Russian forces, continuing their offensive on Ukraine's eastern front lines, have recently moved to block the Black Sea grain route again.

There is growing concern that global food prices will rise steeply again as they did three years ago.

I'm a YouTube reporter on the report.

[Reporter]
In August, after Ukraine invaded Kursk, Russia rather intensified its offensive on the eastern front.

In a fierce battle, they are advancing little by little towards the Ukrainian logistical base of Pokrovsk.

At the same time, it has also increased the intensity of airstrikes targeting southern Odessa, its largest trading port.

On top of that, it began directly attacking foreign ships that were transporting Ukrainian grain last month.

The route, which supplies wheat, barley, and corn to more than 40 countries, is on the verge of being blocked again.

[Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky / Last 2 days: Russian terrorists have always targeted food security in the region and the world.]

Russia blocked all ports in the Black Sea back in 2022 when it invaded Ukraine.

As a result, food prices have risen to record highs, and poor Middle Eastern and African countries have experienced major crises.

[Meximo Torrero Kulen, Senior Specialist, World Food Organization/April 2022: Ukraine and Russia account for 30% of global grain exports and 63% of sunflower oil exports]

Russia has refrained from attacking grain carriers since the port was reopened under the mediation of the United Nations and Turkiye.

But the Black Sea route is threatened again in two years, raising tensions in the food market.

Russia's attack is seen as an attempt to hurt Ukraine's grain exports, which once shrank to a third and have all but recovered.

Russia, which competes with Ukraine in the grain market, can naturally reap reflective benefits.

In fact, despite international sanctions last year, Russia got its hands on a huge amount of money, exporting 87 million tons of wheat, an all-time high.

It's YTN YouTube.