Grain route attacks put Bangladesh in firing line

Bangladesh’s heavy reliance on imported wheat leaves it exposed to the fallout from Russian attacks on Ukraine’s grain export routes, with Western envoys warning that disruptions could drive up food prices, tighten global supplies and deepen hunger far beyond the war zone.
In a joint statement issued on Wednesday, the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh and eight Western envoys accused Russia of undermining global food security by targeting Ukraine’s ports, shipping routes and agricultural infrastructure, calling for a ceasefire leading to a just and lasting peace.
“The world must not allow food to become yet another weapon of war,” they said.
Russia’s attacks are disrupting Ukraine’s ability to export food through the Black Sea, the Danube River and overland corridors, threatening the movement of grain and other agricultural products while putting pressure on trade, energy and fertiliser markets, the statement said.
“One of the world’s most important grain routes is again under attack at a time when 7.8% of the world’s population faces hunger,” the envoys said, warning that restricted supplies could push up international prices and hit vulnerable import-dependent countries hardest. The timing is particularly damaging as Ukraine moves through its harvest season. Attacks on transport links and export facilities have left grain, oilseeds and other agricultural products stranded, while grain exports in August fell to half the level recorded in 2025, according to the statement. International prices have already responded to the disruption.

The situation could worsen in the coming months, with Ukraine at risk of exhausting its storage capacity by October. More than nine million tonnes of grain, oilseeds and meal could be left without storage space by November, the envoys warned.
The consequences could extend into the next planting season. Unable to sell their harvests, farmers may lack the income needed to finance future sowing, potentially reducing production and prolonging supply pressures into next year.
The statement estimated that 645 million people worldwide already face hunger, warning that disruptions to shipping, energy markets, trade and humanitarian logistics can have far-reaching consequences. The concurrent crisis in the Middle East further illustrates the vulnerability of global supply chains, it said.
Bangladesh has particular reason for concern. Wheat is the country’s second-most-consumed cereal, and more than 80% of its wheat-based food needs depend on imports, leaving it vulnerable to disruptions in major producing regions and international shipping routes.
The risks were evident when the war disrupted supplies four years ago, the envoys said, as Bangladesh experienced higher import costs and rising domestic prices for wheat and wheat-based foods. Inflation has remained high, they added.
The envoys argued that Russia’s use of food insecurity as a tool of pressure had been part of its strategy since the start of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Ending the war and halting attacks on the country’s trade routes would bring benefits well beyond Europe, including to Bangladesh, they said.
“By targeting Ukraine’s export routes, Russia is not only trying to weaken Kyiv. It is also testing how much pressure the rest of the world will tolerate when food becomes collateral damage. Bangladesh is part of the collateral damage,” the statement said.
The statement was issued by the EU ambassador and heads of mission from the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Norway.

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