Russians destroy 15% of grain storage sites in Ukraine - Conflict Observatory

The Conflict Observatory, an American non-governmental organization, has established, through the analysis of satellite imagery, that Ukraine has lost one in six crop storage facilities since the beginning of the Russian invasion.

The organization said this in a statement posted on its website, Ukrinform reports.

In addition, many more facilities suffered other damage. In total, satellite images of 344 facilities in Ukraine were studied, and 75 of them were classified as damaged.

Under international law, the deliberate and indiscriminate destruction of infrastructure where crops are stored can be considered a war crime, as well as a crime against humanity, the organization said.

Following the release of an independent assessment of the devastating impact of Russia's war on food storage sites in Ukraine, the U.S. Department of State, which supports the activities of the Conflict Observatory, on Thursday called for further investigation through appropriate mechanisms.

"The United States will continue to firmly stand with Ukraine as it defends its freedom, for the sake of its own people and of people across the globe who rely on the harvests from Ukraine’s farmlands. Our support for Ukraine remains unwavering," the agency said.