Viterra terminal in Ukraine on fire after attack

Viterra’s port terminal in the southern Ukrainian city of Mykolaiv was on fire following a Russian missile attack on June 22, Reuters reported, citing a Viterra spokesperson.

“Viterra can confirm that its Everi terminal was hit and is currently on fire,” the spokesperson said in an emailed response to a Reuters question.

The spokesperson said a response team was attempting to bring the fire under control, without giving further details. No fatalities were reported, although one person suffered minor injuries.

Regional governor Vitaliy Kim said seven Russian missiles struck Mykolaiv. Ukraine’s national television broadcaster reported that a warehouse where vegetable oil was stored was on fire in Mykolaiv’s port and that firefighters had been trying to put it out.

The city is one of Ukraine’s major Black Sea ports that have been shut down since Russia’s invasion started on Feb. 24 and a blockade was imposed. Ukraine is among the world’s top exporters of wheat, corn, sunflower oil and fertilizer. Global food prices, which were already rising prior to the invasion, have soared to near-record highs and threatened a hunger crisis as Ukraine has asked for international help to lift the blockade.

Viterra, based in Rotterdam, Netherlands, is the crop trading business spun out of Glencore in November 2020. Viterra has more than 17,500 employees operating in 37 countries with a network of storage, processing and transportation assets.

Tags: Ukraine, Viterra, war, Reuters reported