Russia aims missiles at Ukraine's farm storage after days of hitting port facilities

Russia fires missiles at Odesa region, damaging farm storage buildings and an "important infrastructure facility". 2 injured, 100 metric tons of peas and 20 metric tons of barley destroyed. Russia exits Black Sea Grain Initiative, threatening maritime escalation. Mr. Zelenskyy dismisses Culture Minister and UK ambassador, citing wartime spending and criticism.

Russian cruise missiles, flying low and hugging the terrain to dodge Ukrainian air defences, destroyed farm storage buildings in the Odesa region early on July 21, Ukrainian officials said, as the Kremlin's forces expanded their targets following three days of bombardment of the region's Black Sea port infrastructure.

Hours later, seven Russian missiles also damaged what officials described as an “important infrastructure facility” southwest of the port city of Odesa, in what appeared to be part of an ongoing Kremlin effort to cripple Ukraine's Black Sea food exports. Officials did not immediately provide details of that attack.

During the night, two missiles struck the agricultural storage facility, starting a fire, and while workers fought to put it out another missile hit, destroying farm and firefighting equipment, the southern Odesa region's Gov. Oleh Kiper said.

The attack injured two people and destroyed 100 metric tonness of peas and 20 metric tons of barley, according to Mr. Kiper.

The attack was small-scale in comparison with barrages in recent days that put Odesa in Russia's crosshairs after Moscow tore up a wartime deal that allowed Ukraine to send grain through the key Black Sea port.

Russia targeted Ukrainian critical grain export infrastructure after vowing to retaliate for an attack that damaged a crucial bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula.

Though Friday's strike was more muted, the recent uptick in attacks has kept people in Odesa on edge.