Pope Francis condemns Russian attacks on Ukrainian ports’ grain terminals
Pope Francis (Photo:REUTERS/Yara Nardi)
Pope Francis has condemned Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative and Moscow’s subsequent airstrikes on Ukrainian grain infrastructure at Ukrainian ports, according to a report by Vatican News on July 30.
“Let us not cease to pray for Ukraine, where war devastates everything, including grain,” Pope Francis said.
“This is a serious offense to God, for grain is His gift to feed humanity. The cries of our brothers and sisters suffering from hunger reach up to the heavens,” Pope Francis said during Sunday prayers in the Vatican in Rome.
“I appeal to my brothers, the authorities of the Russian Federation, that the Black Sea Initiative may be restored and grain may be transported safely,” the Pope added.
On July 17, Russia officially announced its withdrawal from the grain agreement, citing the repeated sabotage of the Crimean Bridge as the reason. Along with this move, Moscow also revoked guarantees of safe navigation in the Black Sea.
In response, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed continuing the grain agreement without Russia’s participation, in collaboration with Turkey and the United Nations.
However, tensions escalated as the Russian Ministry of Defense declared that it would consider all vessels heading to Ukrainian ports as carriers of military cargo.
In a mirrored response, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry declared that it would treat vessels heading to Russian and occupied ports as military targets.
Russia conducted training missile strikes in the Black Sea on July 21, after threatening to attack all maritime vessels heading to Ukrainian ports. During the exercises, the occupiers deliberately sank the Ukrainian corvette Ternopil, which had been captured in 2014 during the occupation of Crimea.
Will you support Ukraine’s free press?
Dear reader, as all news organizations, we must balance the pressures of delivering timely, accurate, and relevant stories with requirements to fund our business operations.
As a Ukrainian-based media, we also have another responsibility – to amplify Ukraine’s voice to the world during the crucial moment of its existence as a political nation.
It’s the support of our readers that lets us continue doing our job. We keep our essential reporting free because we believe in our ultimate purpose: an independent, democratic Ukraine.
If you’re willing to support Ukraine, consider subscribing to our Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Please help us continue fighting Russian propaganda.
Truth can be hard to tell from fiction these days. Every viewpoint has its audience of backers and supporters, no matter how absurd.
If conscious disinformation is reinforced by state propaganda apparatus and budget, its outcomes may become deadly.
There is no solution to this, other than independent, honest, and accurate reporting.
We remain committed to empowering the Ukrainian voice to push against the muck. If you’re willing to stand up for the truth – consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. Thank you very much.
Will you help tell Ukraine’s story to the world?
Twenty years ago, most people hadn’t even heard of Ukraine. Today, the country is on everyone’s lips and everyone’s headlines. War pushed us on the front page. But there are many other things we do that we are proud of – from music and culture to technology.
We need your help to tell the world Ukrainian story of resilience, joy, and survival. If you’re willing to back our effort, consider supporting us on Patreon starting from 5$ per month. We are immensely grateful.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
