Ukraine’s harvest yield could be halved this year as a result of the Russian invasion, Zelensky says

Fears millions around the world could go hungry as a consequence of the war

Ukraine’s harvest could be up to 50 per cent smaller than usual this year because of Russia’s war, Volodymyr Zelensky has warned.

In a statement published on Sunday morning, President Zelenksy said that in spite of the depleted harvest, Ukraine’s “main goal” was to prevent a global food crisis.

He added that the country’s authorities would find alternative ways to export grain, amid fears that millions could go hungry because large parts of the world rely on Ukraine for their food supply.

Earlier this month, Ukraine and Russia signed an agreement with the United Nations and Turkey on reopening Black Sea routes, blocked by Moscow, in order to resume grain exports.

It is feared, however, that the Kremlin could renege on its promises and continue to use grain as a weapon of war.

Russian forces have targeted ports, grain depots, livestock and crops during the conflict. Just hours after the two countries signed the grain deal on 22 July, Russian forces fired precision missiles into the port of Odesa as grain was being prepared for export.

Mr Zelenky’s warning came as fighting intensified in the south and east of Ukraine.

Authorities said the city of Mykolaiv, about 100km northwest of Kherson, near the Black Sea, had suffered a “massive” Russian bombardment overnight.

The city’s governor said that Oleksiy Vadatursky, one of the country’s richest men, and his wife, Raisa, had been killed in the attack.

Mr Vadatursky, 74, owned Nibulon, a major agricultural firm that specialises in the production and export of grains including wheat, barley and corn.

A hotel, a sports complex, two schools, a service station and some homes were destroyed during the shelling, which the mayor described as the “strongest of all time”.