Five new grain ships leave Ukraine

ARK News... Five cargo ships loaded with the grain departed on Sunday from the Ukrainian ports of "Chernomorsk" and "Odesa" to continue exporting grain, according to the Joint Coordination Center that oversees the operations, announced on Saturday evening.

In total, the ships transport more than 161,000 tons of corn and foodstuffs to Turkey, China, and Italy, according to the Joint Coordination Center, which will follow their progress until their arrival in Istanbul, where they will be inspected at sea before they cross the Bosphorus Strait, according to Agence France-Presse.

With the launch of these ships, Ukraine's grain exports are gradually taking a steady pace.

The Joint Coordination Center said in a statement that it "is in the process of finalizing the regular export procedures" within the framework of the agreement to export Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea. "Schedules may be affected by preparations, weather conditions, or any other unforeseen circumstances," he said.

Simultaneously, the Center allowed the cargo ship "MV Osprey" to sail empty to Chernomorsk, after it was inspected on Sunday, off the coast of Istanbul.

The Joint Coordination Center was established in Istanbul under the international agreement signed on July 22 between Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations.

The agreement allows for the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports, suspended since the Russian invasion on February 24, and shipments of Russian agricultural products despite Western sanctions.

Experts completed the inspection of the tanker "Navistar", which left Odessa (Friday) for Ireland.

The center confirmed that two other ships that left at the same time will be subject to inspection on Sunday.

In his address to the Ukrainians, President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed the resumption of exports of Ukrainian agricultural products by sea. "Our ports on the Black Sea are operational," he said. "But the main danger remains (in the area of) security," he added. The risk of Russian provocation and terrorist acts remains. Everyone should realize that. But if our partners fulfill their obligations and ensure the security of deliveries, this will solve the global food crisis.”

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