Why does Russia shell the grain corridor — ISW explained

Recently, the Russian army has been attacking port infrastructure and civilian vessels in Ukraine. The invaders are deliberately doing this to undermine Western confidence in Ukraine's ability to defend the grain corridor.

This was reported by analysts of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

Russia's strikes on the grain corridor 

The analysts recalled that since October 5, the occupying army has launched four attacks on civilian ships docked in Ukrainian ports. ISW believes that this "campaign of attacks" was clearly planned to undermine Ukraine's grain corridor, to ruin international support for Ukraine, and to push Ukraine into premature negotiations.  

Russian military commanders have explicitly called for further Russian strikes on Ukrainian grain infrastructure, civilian vessels in Ukrainian ports, and other targets that would further impair Ukraine's economic potential.

"ISW recently assessed that Russian attacks on civilian vessels and other infrastructure along the grain corridor are almost certainly intended to undermine Western confidence in Ukraine's ability to maintain and defend the corridor, influence ongoing Western discussions about long-term support for Ukraine, and hinder Ukraine's ability to survive economically during a war," the analysts concluded. 

On October 14, Russians launched a ballistic missile attack on Odesa. The enemy again targeted the port infrastructure, damaging civilian ships.

In addition, on the night of October 11, the occupiers attacked Odesa region. The missile attack destroyed a farm and killed four people.