Russia has accused Ukraine of being liable for an explosion on a vital ammonia pipeline, stating that it may negatively impression the renewal of a significant grain export agreement. Off the record -Odesa pipeline was broken in a blast on Monday, which Moscow attributes to Ukrainian “sabotage” teams. The Kremlin has declared that it’s going to not renew last year’s grain export cope with Kyiv except the pipeline is practical.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has denied these allegations, suggesting that the explosion was more doubtless a result of Russian shelling. Before the warfare, the 2,500-kilometre pipeline, running from the Russian metropolis of Togliatti to a few Black Sea ports in southern and western Ukraine, exported 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia yearly. The pipeline ceased operations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
In talks to secure grain exports from Ukraine last yr, Kyiv and Moscow agreed on the secure passage of ammonia through the pipeline, a vital component in fertiliser manufacturing. The vital deal, mediated by the UN and Turkey, was initially agreed upon in June 2022 for 120 days and has been prolonged 3 times since. The current agreement is ready to run out on 17 July.
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that the blast could solely have a adverse impression on the renewal of the deal, adding that the scenario is difficult. Russian international ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said that it would take between one and three months to repair the injury to the pipeline. However, Industry and Trade minister Denis Manturov said that Moscow has no entry to the damaged part.
Ukraine has firmly denied any involvement in the explosion, insisting that Russia orchestrated the assault. President Zelensky highlighted the distinction between the pipeline explosion and the blast on the Khakovka dam, calling the latter an act of terrorism.
In different news, Russian pro-war bloggers have speculated that a long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive has begun within the southern region of Zaporizhzhia. Andrey Rudenko, a correspondent for Russian state television channel Rossiya 24, claimed that Ukrainian tanks had launched attacks on Russian strains in the region, which have been subsequently repelled. Russian-installed governor of occupied Zaporizhzhia, Vladimir Rogov, also believed that there had been an tried full-scale offensive in the region..