Russian missiles hit grain warehouses in Odesa Oblast

A Russian missile strike in the early hours of July 21 targeted grain warehouses at an agricultural company in Odesa Oblast, injuring two people, said Serhii Bratchuk, spokesperson for the Odesa military administration.

"At dawn, the Russians fired Kalibr-type missiles from the missile carrier, which was put on duty in the Black Sea at night," Bratchuk wrote on Telegram.

"Unfortunately, grain terminals of one of the agricultural enterprises of the Odesa region were hit. The enemy destroyed 100 tonnes of peas and 20 tonnes of barley."

The spokesperson commented that two people sustained injuries from broken glass and received medical attention.

According to Natalia Humeniuk, the spokesperson of the Southern Operational Command, Russian forces attacked in two waves.

At first, two Kalibr missiles hit the facility. Once the rescue operations and fire liquidation were underway, another missile struck the site, Humeniuk explained.

This is the fourth consecutive strike against Odesa Oblast over the past four days. The three previous attacks targeted mainly the regional center of Odesa. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia is aiming against port infrastructure and grain supplies, previously destroying around 60,000 tonnes of grain.

The strikes come shortly after Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17, sparking fears of food insecurity worldwide. The deal, brokered in July 2022 by Turkey and the U.N., allowed Ukraine to export its agricultural products even amid the full-scale invasion.

1 killed in Russian strike on cultural center in Chernihiv Oblast

Russian forces launched a missile strike against a cultural center in Chernihiv Oblast on July 21, killing one of its employees, Governor Viacheslav Chaus reported.

"As a result of a rocket attack on Chernihiv Oblast, the building of the local cultural center was damaged in one of the settlements of the district," the governor wrote.

During the removal of the rubble, a body of a woman who worked at the center was found, Chaus informed.

The air siren went off twice during the morning in Chernihiv Oblast. Around 11:15 a.m. local time, the governor announced incoming Russian missiles.

Over the past day, local officials reported several artillery strikes against the oblast, targeting the Novhorod-Siverskyi district.

Chernihiv Oblast, lying at Ukraine's border with Belarus and Russia, suffers regularly from Russian attacks.

White House Named Most Likely Way to Export of Ukrainian Grain

The United States and its allies will assist Ukraine in transporting grain through land routes despite Russia's attempts to block its maritime supply.

According to John Kirby, the Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the US National Security Council, in an interview with Voice of America, it is probable that grain from Ukraine will be exported through overland routes, and he mentioned that "we have done this before, including during the grain deal."

Kirby acknowledged that this method is not as efficient as maritime transportation since it won't allow for the same quantity of grain to be exported. Nevertheless, he assured that Washington understands this and will not abandon efforts to find solutions.

Kirby referred to the "grain deal" that Russia disrupted, stating that it was beneficial for all parties involved, including Russian farmers, and also beneficial for developing countries facing food problems.

Earlier, US Ambassador Bridget Brink reassured that the United States would continue to seek ways to deliver Ukrainian grain to the world.

On July 17th, Russia announced the termination of the "grain deal" and threatened "risks" to any parties attempting to continue the initiative without Russia's involvement.

Putin Called Western Lands of Poland A Gift from Stalin"

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated that the western territories of Poland are a "gift from Stalin," and Poland should be grateful to the USSR for "restoring its independence."

During a meeting with permanent members of the Security Council, Putin mentioned reports about discussions on the creation of a Polish-Lithuanian-Ukrainian union, which he interpreted as a "threat of occupation of Western Ukraine." He asserted that this would not be something new, recalling events from the 20th century.

"I want to remind you what aggressive policies led Poland to in the past. It ended tragically in 1939 when Poland was abandoned by its Western allies to the German war machine and practically lost its independence and sovereignty, which was largely restored thanks to the USSR. It was thanks to the Soviet Union and Stalin's position that Poland received significant territories in the West, German lands. Yes, the western territories of modern-day Poland are Stalin's gift to the Poles," said the President of Russia.

Previously, the speaker of the State Duma of Russia stated that Poland should be punished for "betraying historical memory" regarding the liberation by the Soviet Union during World War II. In response, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki dismissed it as "typical propaganda."

The Kremlin and self-proclaimed President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko have repeatedly claimed that Poland poses a threat to Ukraine's territorial integrity.