UN chief condemns Russian attacks on Ukraine ports

NEW YORK, (Reuters): UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Tuesday strongly condemned Russian attacks on Ukraine’s Black Sea ports and warned the “destruction of civilian infrastructure may constitute a violation of international humanitarian law,” said U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric.

Russia has jolted world grain markets with an escalation in the Black Sea, mounting a third-straight night of air strikes on Ukrainian ports and issuing a threat against Ukraine-bound vessels. Kyiv responded by announcing similar measures against vessels bound for Russia or Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory.

Moscow has described the port attacks as revenge for a Ukrainian strike on Russia’s bridge to Crimea on Monday.

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The moves came just days after Russia quit a deal – brokered by the United Nations and Turkey – that allowed the safe Black Sea export of Ukraine grain for the past year.