Russia attacked Zmiinyi Island to put pressure on civilian shipping - Military Spox

The military associates the air strikes on Zmiinyi Island with continued pressure on civilian shipping.

Head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine Nataliia Humeniuk said this during a briefing at the Media Center Ukraine - Ukrinform.

"Three of these sorties were labeled as an air threat to foreign civilian vessels that could have made a voyage to Ukrainian ports. All this was aimed at continuing pressure on civilian shipping in view of the future prospects of the grain deal," Humeniuk said.

The head of the Joint Coordination Press Center of the Defense Forces of Southern Ukraine added that there were no direct hits on the island.

"The area of the island was bombed," Humeniuk clarified.

As Ukrinform reported, the Baltic states are ready to provide the capacities of five large ports on their territory to participate in the safe export of Ukrainian grain to world markets.