Major oil exporter Allseeds suspends operations in Odesa Oblast over security risks

"Further operational work under current conditions carries extremely high risks to the lives and safety of the company's employees, as well as to the company's facilities," the group's statement wrote.

It noted that this difficult decision was made to ensure worker safety, as well as to preserve manufacturing assets, infrastructure, and the company's human and operational potential.

"The suspension of operational activity will take place in compliance with Ukrainian legislation and will involve maintaining the necessary resources and capabilities for a potential resumption of work once the security situation stabilizes," the statement indicated.

Allseeds Group possesses processing capacities ranging from 1,500 tons of soybeans per day to 2,400 tons of sunflower seeds, over 100,000 tons of vegetable oil storage capacity, and 112,000 tons of simultaneous dry cargo storage, with a total vegetable oil transshipment capacity of up to 1 million tons per year. 

It ranks as Ukraine's third-largest exporter of unrefined sunflower oil.

Russia has been regularly attacking Odesa Oblast in recent days. Over the night of July 24 alone, a massive strike injured a woman and a four-year-old child.

Russia continues to shell civilian vessels — bringing ship movement through the Black Sea maritime corridor to a complete halt, prompting Ukraine to initiate an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council.