Ukraine blamed for ammonia pipeline blast, threatens Russian grain deal

Russia has accused Ukraine of being responsible for an explosion on a crucial ammonia pipeline, stating that it could negatively impact the renewal of a significant grain export agreement. The Togliatti-Odesa pipeline was damaged in a blast on Monday, which Moscow attributes to Ukrainian “sabotage” groups. The Kremlin has declared that it will not renew last year’s grain export deal with Kyiv unless the pipeline is functional.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, however, has denied these allegations, suggesting that the explosion was more likely a result of Russian shelling. Before the war, the 2,500-kilometre pipeline, running from the Russian city of Togliatti to three Black Sea ports in southern and western Ukraine, exported 2.5 million tonnes of ammonia annually. The pipeline ceased operations following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

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