Russia has escalated its attacks on Ukrainian food export facilities and practiced seizing ships in the Black Sea, potentially threatening a global food crisis and increasing concerns about the supply of grain.

The attacks on Ukraine’s grain infrastructure came after Kyiv vowed to defy Russia’s naval blockade on its grain export ports, following Moscow’s withdrawal from a UN-brokered safe sea corridor agreement.

Western leaders accuse Russia of attempting to loosen sanctions by targeting Ukraine’s food exports, while the United States imposed Russia-related sanctions against nearly 120 people and entities in an effort to constrain Russia’s military capabilities.