Ukraine's Mykolaiv port and infrastructure hit again in Russian attack

Ukraine's second biggest port of Mykolaiv has again come under missile attack on Wednesday, with at least two grain and vegetable oil terminals hit by missiles, according to local sources.

The vegoil terminal Everi, owned by Viterra, was said to be on fire following the attack, which was believed to have followed a Russian missile strike. 

Some local sources have said that around 70,000 mt of oil could have been stored in the terminal at the time of the attack, but Agricensus has not been able to confirm those details.

Viterra acquired the facility in September 2020.

Another site that was said to have been affected was Greentour grain terminal, owned by Bunge, but it was not clear whether any damage had been sustained or how substantial it may be.

Agricensus has contacted both companies, but no official comment on that was received from Viterra at the time of reporting.

While Bunge confirmed the attack, saying no employees were injured as the plant has been closed since February 24. 

"Bunge’s facility in Mykolaiv was hit during the latest Russian attacks in the area. A city rescue brigade is on site for damage assistance and control. A more thorough inspection is required to assess the exact impact on the facility. We are in contact and cooperating with appropriate local authorities," the official statement said.

Meanwhile, the spokesman of Viterra confirmed the fire at the Everi terminal, according to reports from news agency Reuters.

This it not the first time Mykolaiv port has come under missile attacks since the Russian invasion of Ukraine began on February 24, with an earlier strike already affecting Bunge’s terminal along with the Nika-Tera and Olvia terminals.

Reports also suggest that the region near Ochakov port and city have also come under shelling in recent days.

Mykolaiv port is also the second biggest among Ukrainian ports in terms of grain and oilseeds exports, accounting for around 28% of all grains, oilseeds and meals exported from July 1 to February 22, prior to the Russian invasion.

It also comes just after the media have been reporting that the meeting between Ukraine, Turkey, Russia and the UN has been agreed for the next week regarding the re-opening of Ukrainian deep-sea ports for export. 

Mykolaiv region borders the Kherson region, which is currently under Russian forces' control and as such the region has been under attack for most all the time over the last few months.

The fighting has caused damage not only to civilian buildings and people but also grain fields and infrastructure in what is increasingly looking like a concerted attempt to target grain facilities.

Earlier, Russia took over control of the Kherson region and parts of Donetsk, meaning the country has now seized control of the shallow water ports located there.

Russian authorities in the occupied ports now claim the waters have been cleaned of mines and the ports are now ready to export grains from the occupied regions.