Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday that the war with Russia would create food shortages in Africa.

Zelensky has said Africa is being “held hostage” by Russia’s offensive as fears of a food crisis on the continent grow over Moscow’s blockade of Black Sea ports.

The chief diplomat of the European Union has declared that the Russian blockade is a “war crime”.

Ukrainian troops have “lost control” of the village of Metolkine, near the attacked town of Severodonetsk, according to the Luhansk governor.

And Ukraine’s grain ports are blocked.