Michelle Nichols and Steve Holland

WASHINGTON/UNITED NATIONS – U.S. government photos seen by Reuters revealed what a U.S. official called damage to grain storage units in Eastern Ukraine. This was indicative of Russian aggressions that have been affecting the global food supply.

Two black-and white images of long, rectangular buildings in Eastern Ukraine were captured. One was intact in January. Another showed damaged roofs. A third image depicted what key terms “impactcraters” in march.

Commenting on unclassified photos, the U.S. official stated that the United States had information that Russian forces were repeatedly damaging grain storage units in Eastern Ukraine.

The official stated that at least six of the grain storage facilities were affected by these terrorist attacks in late March.

Officials around the globe are concerned about how the Ukraine invasion will affect the supply of food worldwide. Ukraine is the fourth-largest grain exporter in the 2020/21 seasons.

“Russia’s reckless damaging of these grain silos is a clear-cut example of how Putin’s war directly affects civilians in Ukraine and threatens food security around the world,” the official said.

According to the official, “Countries in Africa and the Middle East depend on Ukrainian wheat exports. The destruction of these food stocks or storage facilities could cause shortages that drive up prices in already fragile economies.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin described the February 24th invasion of Ukraine by his country as a special military operation that seeks to eliminate Ukraine’s military infrastructure.

In an effort to pressurize Putin about his invasion in Ukraine, the Biden Administration has publicly shared intelligence multiple times.

At a U.N. Security Council meeting about Ukraine, Wendy Sherman (Deputy Secretary of State) stated that Russia had bombed at most three ships transporting goods from Black Sea ports into the rest of the globe, one of which was chartered by an agricultural company.

Sherman said Ukraine had told counterparts that “Russia is actively targeting grain silos and food storage facilities.”

Black Sea shipping is important for both grain and oil. The waters of the Black Sea are shared with Russia, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey and Georgia.

Sherman said the Russian navy is blocking access to Ukraine’s ports, essentially cutting off exports of grain and reportedly preventing approximately 94 ships carrying food for the world market from reaching the Mediterranean.

“It’s no wonder many shippers are now hesitant to send vessels into the Black Sea, even to Russian ports, given the danger posed by Russian forces,” she said.

Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, refuted Sherman’s statement. He said that Ukrainian soldiers and “nationalists,” were shooting at fleeing civilians. Then he added, “And yet, today, we’re being informed that we’re bombing vessels with grains as well as grain storage facilities.”

On Wednesday, Ukraine claimed Russia had planted mines at the Black Sea. It also stated that some of the munitions must be diverted from Turkey and Romania to reduce the risk to the vital trade shipping routes in the area.