'Catastrophe': Volodymyr Zelensky's grim warning as he accuses Vladimir Putin of trying to collapse global food markets

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of seeking to cause "global catastrophe" after drones struck the country's largest inland port, destroying thousands of tonnes of grain.

The strike early on Wednesday morning local time struck the port of Izmail on the Danube River hitting a number of buildings and preventing ships loaded with grain from leaving.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said the Russian attack damaged almost 40,000 tons of grain which had been destined for countries in Africa, as well as China and Israel.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of seeking to cause "global catastrophe" after drones struck the country's largest inland port, destroying thousands of tonnes of grain. Picture: Beata Zawrzel/NurPhoto via Getty Images

In his nightly video address, Ukraine's President called the strike "madness" as he warned Russia was set on attempting to destroy global food stocks.

"For the Russian state, this is not just a battle against our freedom and against our country," he said.

"Moscow is waging a battle for a global catastrophe.

"In their madness, they need world food markets to collapse, they need a price crisis, they need disruptions in supplies."

Ukraine and Russia are two of the world's largest exporters of grain and the hit to global supplies since the war's beginning has caused prices to soar, something experts believe Moscow is keen to exploit for leverage in the conflict.

Ukraine and Russia are two of the world's largest exporters of grain and the hit to global supplies since the war's beginning has caused prices to soar, something experts believe Moscow is keen to exploit for leverage in the conflict. Picture: Valentyna Polishchuk/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images

Russian state media outlet RIA said the port and grain storage facilities hit had been housing foreign mercenaries and military hardware.

They also claimed the strike had been targeting a naval shipyard.

Neither claim could be independently verified.

The strike comes as the Kremlin steps up its efforts to prevent Ukraine from exporting grain following President Vladimir Putin's decision to withdraw from the Black Sea grain deal last month.

The agreement, brokered by Turkey, had seen both countries able to continue shipping vital supplies of food to countries in Africa and other developing nations.

In the aftermath of the attack, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a call to his Russian counterpart, urging him to reconsider his stance and re-enter talks over the deal.

In the aftermath of the attack, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a call to his Russian counterpart, urging him to reconsider his stance and re-enter talks over the deal. Picture: Mikhail Svetlov/Getty Images

However, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blamed Western sanctions for the food crisis, suggesting Russia would not re-engage in talks unless those measurers were lifted.

"Russia – and president Putin has said this 100 times already – is ready to immediately return to the deal itself," he said.

"Just the deal must be implemented in the part that concerns the Russian Federation.

"So far this has not been done, as you know.

"The West imposed sanctions against Russia without taking into account the needs of the world community for food."

Moscow has also claimed the spate of attacks against Ukraine's ports and infrastructure are in response to the second successful attack on the Kerch Strait Bridge in July.

The bridge is the only land link between Russia and occupied Crimea, making it a vital supply line for troops and equipment in the region.

It also holds a great degree of personal significance to Putin, who personally opened it in 2018.

Russia's President announced plans to construct the bridge just one day after his forces illegally annexed Crimea in 2014.