Ukrainian drones damage one of Russia’s largest grain export terminals at the Port of Taman

Ukrainian drones inflicted significant damage overnight on July 30 to a major grain export terminal at Russia’s Port of Taman on the Kerch Strait. Reuters reported the attack, citing a source in the agricultural market. The terminal, operated by Demetra, has an annual handling capacity of 5 mln tons. The company declined to comment.

The attack comes amid escalating confrontation between Ukraine and Russia over export infrastructure in the Black Sea region. In recent weeks, both sides have repeatedly targeted port facilities, agricultural terminals, and commercial vessels, increasing risks for agricultural trade.

Since July 10, shipping through the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait has effectively been suspended due to drone attacks. Until then, the route had handled up to one-quarter of Russia’s grain exports, forcing exporters to redirect cargo flows.

Russian exporters have shifted grain shipments from the country’s southern regions to deep-water Black Sea terminals using road and rail transport. At the same time, attacks on Black Sea port infrastructure have intensified, creating additional challenges for exports.

Against this backdrop, international wheat prices remain supported by concerns over the reliability of Black Sea grain supplies. The market is closely monitoring developments, as Russia remains the world’s largest wheat exporter while Ukraine is one of the key global grain suppliers.

Reuters also reported that on July 30 Ukrainian drones struck a sunflower oil export terminal at the Port of Taman owned by Efko, one of Russia’s leading agricultural and food processing companies. According to one of the agency’s sources, the damage to the facility was minor, while the company declined to comment.

Earlier, the Prosecutor’s Office of Russia’s Krasnodar region confirmed that Ukrainian drones had attacked Taman. The extent of the damage has not been officially disclosed, but the latest strikes underscore the growing risks facing Russia’s grain and agricultural export infrastructure in the Azov-Black Sea basin.

Tags: Russia, sunflower oil, export, wheat, grain terminal, edible oils, war