• The UK claims that Russia has laid mines in the Black Sea, possibly within civilian shipping lanes, after withdrawing from the regional grain initiative. The UK's ambassador to the UN, Barbara Woodward says "this is a coordinated effort to justify and lay blame on Ukraine for any attacks against civilian ships in the Black Sea." READ MORE BELOW

• The Kremlin says it is impossible for Russia to return to the Black Sea grain export deal at present, as its interests are "not being implemented," Russia withdrew from the arrangement last week, saying it wanted greater safeguards for its own agricultural exports. However Moscow has hinted the deal could be revived if its demands are met.

• The International Monetary Fund has warned of a spike in global grain prices after the collapse of the Black Sea deal. IMF chief economist Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas says the UN brokered deal has been "instrumental in making … ample grain supply to the world in the last year." The IMF has predicted a rise in global grain costs, of up to fifteen percent. 

• Russian lawmakers have backed legislation to increase the maximum age limit for compulsory military service to thirty. It comes as Moscow seeks to replenish its forces on the frontline in Ukraine without resorting to another mass mobilization of young men.

• Russian news agencies are reporting that a Ukrainian fuel depot and training center were hit in overnight strikes in the Donetsk region. The Interfax agency says the site in Kostyantynivka was targeted by multiple launch rocket systems, destroying seven pickup trucks, a Hummer and four minibuses. 

• Air raid alerts also sounded over Kyiv for more than three hours early on Tuesday. The authorities say all the Iranian-made Shahed drones launched on the city were shot down before making impact. 

• Russia's defense minister has announced plans for further military cooperation with the DPRK on a trip to Pyongyang. After a meeting with his North Korean counterpart, Sergei Shoigu said the talks "will contribute to strengthening cooperation between our defense departments." Shoigu is heading a Russian delegation visiting the DPRK for commemorations marking the seventieth anniversary of the Korean war.

• The U.S. has announced a new $400m military aid package for Ukraine. Air defense munitions, artillery rounds, armored vehicles, and anti-armor reinforcements have been pledged to help Ukraine's forces.

• Ukraine's top diplomat is in West Africa for talks on ensuring grain supplies to some of the continent's most needy. Dmytro Kuleba's trip has also been seen as an attempt to challenge Russia's push for greater influence in Africa as the conflict in Ukraine continues. Moscow is to hold a summit with the continent's leaders this week.

IN DEPTH 

The UK claims that Moscow may be preparing to blockade Ukraine using its Black Sea Fleet. The British Ministry of Defense has warned of the threat of clashes in the Black Sea if vital trade corridors are cut off. In a statement, military intelligence said the Russian naval ship the "Sergey Kotov" had been deployed to the southern Black Sea to patrol shipping lanes between Istanbul and Odesa. 

"There is a realistic possibility that it will form part of a task group to intercept commercial vessels (that) Russia believes are heading to Ukraine" the statement said.

Meanwhile, the authorities in Ukraine have warned of an "high threat' to civilians, after two mines exploded off the beach at Odesa. The regional governor has urged residents to avoid the area and keep an eye on their children, saying the risk from rogue devices is "extremely serious". 

US intelligence claims that Russia laid additional sea mines in the approaches to Ukrainian ports last week after withdrawing from the Black Sea export deal.

Ukraine's President will appeal for "security" on its southern coastline at its first joint council with Nato later on Wednesday. Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on Twitter: "The consultations are specifically about security in the Black Sea – our ports and our grain exports".

Zelenskyy appealed for a push to secure the safe export of grain from Ukraine "so that no one will have to end up as a harvester of chaos later on."

Subscribe to Storyboard: A weekly newsletter bringing you the best of CGTN every Friday