DISINFO: Russia places no obstacles on the export of Ukrainian grain
SUMMARY
Russia made it clear that grain can be freely transported to any destination. There are no obstacles preventing this. It is necessary for Mr. Zelenskyy to give an order to allow foreign and Ukrainian ships to leave the ports.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation about war in Ukraine, attempting to deflect responsibility for growing food prices and insecurity about supply. This claim was neither counterbalanced nor critically challenged in the article.
Russia's responsibility for the global food crisis stems from the Russian war: naval blockade of Ukrainian ports, bombardment of transport infrastructure and shelling of food storage facilities.
Contrary to the claim, Russian warships are blocking Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea, preventing the export of grain, which poses a risk to global food supply chains. Russia's invasion of Ukraine could soon cause a global food crisis that may last for years, the UN has warned. The World Bank calls it a human catastrophe.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine has destabilised global food markets and is driving food prices up due to increased cost of production, transport and freight insurance. Russia has attacked and destroyed substantial food stocks, production, as well as processing and transport capacities in Ukraine.
For more information on this topic, read the EUvsDisinfo article covering Russian disinformation related to food security.
Technical remark: This disinformation was broadcast via Sputnik on 08 June 2022. Due to the EU decision to temporarily restrict the spread and dissemination of RT and Sputnik inside the EU, access to the link may not work inside the EU.