"Putin Escalates Economic Warfare on Ukraine with Repeated Odessa Bombings"

Russian airstrikes on Ukraine's major port city of Odessa, particularly targeting its grain industry, are seen as part of an economic war aimed at extracting maximum pain following Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to terminate a United Nations-brokered deal allowing grain exports from the Black Sea. The attacks have caused significant damage to the grain industry, destroyed thousands of tons of grain, and are seen as an attempt to cripple Ukraine's agricultural sector, which accounted for about 20 percent of its economy. The use of the Danube River as an alternative trade route has shown promise, but falls far short of satisfying export potential. The United States has provided crucial support to Ukrainian farmers, but some farmers are pessimistic about the survival of their businesses amidst the ongoing economic warfare.