Ukraine eyes first grain exports 'this week'

Russia has insisted that its strikes on Ukraine's port of Odessa 'should not affect' the Turkish-brokered push to send grain to world markets

Russia also pursued an artillery campaign over Ukraine's second city, Kharkiv

Ukraine said Monday it expects to export its first grain shipments under a UN-backed deal to lift Russia's blockade "this week", days after missile strikes by the Kremlin threw the accord into doubt. 

But while grain shipments seemed ready to resume for the first time since the Kremlin's invasion five months ago, Russia's natural gas giant Gazprom added to the geopolitical tensions by warning it would drastically cut deliveries to Europe again.

Less than 24 hours later Moscow struck the port in Odessa -- one of three exit hubs designated in the agreement -- sparking fury in Kyiv and heightening fears the Kremlin would not go through with the deal.

"We are preparing for everything to start this week," said Kubrakov, who led Ukraine's delegation at last week's grain talks in Istanbul.

Kubrakov said de-mining will take place "exclusively" in the shipping lanes required for grain exports, while Ukrainian ships will accompany the departing convoys that will transport not only grain but also fertiliser.

"It is important that the first ship starts sailing as soon as possible," Akar said in a statement.

Russia's naval blockade helped send global prices soaring and sparked fears of famine as it left up to 25 million tonnes of wheat and other grains stranded in Ukraine.  

- Kremlin's shifting narrative -

Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow's cruise missiles hit "exclusively" military infrastructure and were "not connected with the agreement on the export of grain."

Moscow then admitted that it had carried out the strikes, but claimed to have targeted a Ukrainian military vessel and arms delivered by Washington.

Lavrov, who is visiting Uganda, Ethiopia and Congo-Brazzaville, told his Egyptian counterpart on his first stop that Russia would meet grain orders.

"You arranged the artificial hunger and then come to cheer people up," he said on Twitter, assuring that Ukrainian grain will reach its destinations.

- Gazprom gas cut -

Gazprom, the Russian energy giant, unexpectedly announced it was cutting daily deliveries of gas to Europe via the Nord Stream pipeline to 33 million cubic metres a day -- about 20 percent of the pipeline's capacity -- from Wednesday.

The government of Germany, which receives the gas directly by the undersea energy link, said there was "no technical reason" for Gazprom's announcement.

The Ukrainian presidency said Monday that a Russian strike trapped seven people under the rubble of a collapsed cultural centre in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Three were pulled out alive and the rescue operation was ongoing. 

In the south -- where Kyiv has vowed a major counter-offensive to retake the strategic Kherson region -- officials said Ukrainian forces stopped a Russian push in several villages.

Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov said Ukraine had received the first of an expected 15 Gepard anti-aircraft systems and tens of thousands of shells from Germany in the latest foreign arms to arrive. 

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