New York, 21 July 2023 (dpa/MIA) - Russia's decision to not extend the agreement to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea will result in more deaths from starvation for people in the poorest regions who are already suffering severely, the UN said on Friday.

For many of the 362 million people in 69 countries who rely on food aid, the decision is "not a matter of sadness or disappointment. It's a matter of threat to their future and the future their children and their families," UN Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths told the UN Security Council in New York.

"They're not sad, they're angry. They're worried they're concerned. some will go hungry, some will starve. Many may die as a result of these decisions," he said.

On Monday, Moscow declared an end to the agreement to export Ukrainian grain across the Black Sea, despite all international appeals. Subsequently, Moscow announced that ships heading for Ukrainian ports would be considered possible military targets in the future.

Russia followed these actions with massive attacks on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa - from which many millions of tons of food were exported in the past months. It also attacked other Ukrainian cities on the Black Sea.

UN Political Affairs Envoy Rosemary DiCarlo warned Russia before the Security Council on Friday against an escalation of the situation in the Black Sea.

"Any risk of spillover of conflict as a result of a military incident in the Black Sea, whether intentional or unintentional, must be avoided at all costs, as this could have potentially disastrous consequences for us all."

Photo: MIA archive