Russia launched a second straight day of attacks on the southern Ukrainian port city of Odesa, targeting the port itself and critical grain export infrastructure, Ukrainian authorities said. The attacks follow Russia's withdrawal from a U.N.-brokered grain deal under which Russian forces blockading Ukraine's ports would allow ships to leave it for agricultural exports.
Moscow also sent a volley of lethal drones to attack the capital Kyiv, but no major damage or injuries were reported, Kyiv's military administration said. CNBC was not able to verify the information on the ground.
In a pivot since it pulled out of the grain deal, Russia also said that all vessels sailing toward Ukrainian ports will be considered military cargo carriers.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin will not attend the BRICS summit in South Africa, ending months of speculation over whether the leader would travel to a country where he would be subject to an International Criminal Court warrant for his arrest.