The United Nations warned on Friday of the risk of a military incident that could escalate the conflict after Russia said it carried out missile-launching maneuvers in the Black Sea, the site of rising tensions with Ukraine and its allies since the expiration of The grain agreement is crucial for global food supplies, AFP reports.

The fighting also continues to claim civilian casualties. According to local authorities, Russian bombs killed two children from the village of Druzhba, a couple from the town of Kostyantynivka, and a woman and an employee of a cultural center in the north of Chernihiv region.

Speaking before the Security Council, the official representative of the organization expressed concern about the possible consequences of recent events. “Threats to attack civilian vessels in the Black Sea are unacceptable,” said UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo.

“The risk of an escalation of conflict in response to a military incident in the Black Sea – whether intentional or accidental – must be avoided at all costs,” she added.

Earlier, the Russian military said that its ships fired anti-ship cruise missiles and destroyed a “target ship in the area of ​​combat exercises in the northwestern part of the Black Sea”, that is, near the coast of Ukraine.

On Wednesday, Russia said it would treat ships bound for Ukraine in the Black Sea as carrying military cargo and countries flying their flags as parties to the conflict.

Tensions have risen in the region since Moscow this week rejected a deal on Ukrainian grain exports that would have allowed cargo ships loaded with agricultural products to leave Ukrainian ports via protected sea lanes.

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