Ukraine's largest producer and exporter of grains suspends operations at Chornomorsk terminals after Russian attacks

Kernel, the largest producer and exporter of grains in Ukraine, has been forced to suspend operations at its terminal facilities after Russian attacks on the Chornomorsk seaport.

Source: Kernel press service

Quote: "On the nights of 10-11 and 11-12 July 2026, the port of Chornomorsk came under massive attack. Kernel's port assets were also heavily hit. The attacks caused significant destruction and forced the suspension of terminal operations."

Details: The attacks damaged loading and unloading equipment, terminal infrastructure, and power supply lines.

Grain silos and sunflower oil storage tanks were destroyed or damaged, resulting in blockages, spillage and quality loss of around 45,000 tonnes of wheat and 9,000 tonnes of sunflower oil.

The company noted that, thanks to safety measures, no employees were injured.

A full technical assessment of the damage, the volume of lost grain and required capital expenditure is currently under way.

"The timeframe for restoring port capacity will depend on the completion of clean-up operations and the conclusions of an engineering audit," Kernel said.

"Targeted strikes on port infrastructure pose a direct threat not only to global food security, but also to the safety of international shipping. In particular, vessels flying the flags of China and other countries that were in port for loading at the time of the attacks were put at risk," the company added.

Background:

• On the morning of 13 July, Russian forces attacked Odesa, with hits reported on transport infrastructure.
• Earlier, on the night of 4-5 June, a Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast damaged a Kernel terminal at the port of Chornomorsk.
• On 19 May, during a nighttime Russian drone attack on Khmelnytskyi Oblast, a Kernel grain storage complex was damaged.
• On the night of 2-3 May, Russian drones attacked port infrastructure in Chornomorsk, Odesa Oblast, damaging a vegetable oil transshipment terminal belonging to Kernel.
• In August 2024, an oilseed processing plant belonging to Kernel in Ukraine's west was damaged in a Russian drone attack.

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