KYIV, UKRAINE — Russia continued its attack on Ukrainian grain assets for the fourth day in a row and practiced hitting ships in the Black Sea, Reuters reported.

A grain terminal of an agricultural company was hit in the Odesa region and 100 tonnes of peas and 20 tonnes of barley were destroyed, regional governor Oleh Kiper told the news agency.

Russia’s defense ministry said on July 21 its Black Sea fleet practiced firing rockets at floating targets and confiscating ships. Earlier in the week, Russia said it would consider all ships heading for Ukrainian waters to be potentially carrying weapons.

The grain-centered attacks started after Russia pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative on July 17. The initiative had allowed for the safe passage of 33 million tonnes of grains and other foodstuffs from Ukrainian ports.

Chicago wheat futures on July 21 jumped, heading toward their biggest weekly gain since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Ukraine is hoping to restart exports without Russia’s participation and said on July 19 that it was setting up an alternative Black Sea route via the territorial waters of Romania.

The grain initiative was brokered in July 2022 by Turkey and the United Nations. Russia in recent weeks had threatened to not extend the deal unless a series of demands, including the removal of obstacles to Russian grain and fertilizer exports, were met.

In the five months after Russia invaded Ukraine, exports out of Ukraine were blockaded, causing grain prices to soar to near record highs and leading to food insecurity. Ukraine is a leading exporter of wheat, corn, barley and sunflower oil.