KYIV: Ukraine will do everything possible to protect its seaports and guarantee grain exports at no less than last season’s level, when the country shipped more than 37 million tons, deputy economy minister Taras Vysotskiy told Reuters on Wednesday. Russia has sharply stepped up attacks in recent weeks on Ukrainian Black Sea ports’ infrastructure and on cargo vessels entering Odesa ports to export grain and other agricultural goods.

While its not yet known if Russias grain flows were impacted, prices for wheat gained as much as 4.8%, the most since mid-May.

Kernel, the largest producer and exporter of grains in Ukraine, has been forced to suspend operations at its terminal facilities after Russian attacks on the Chornomorsk seaport.