Ukraine grain ship departs for Egypt, defying Russian blockade
A ship loaded with grain has departed from a Ukrainian port bound for Egypt, Ukrainian authorities announced on Friday, noting that it is the second time this week that a civilian ship has used a maritime corridor established by Kyiv to bypass the Russian blockade and threats, according to AFP and Agerpres.
"The Aroyat ship left the port of Chernomorsk carrying 17,600 tons of Ukrainian grain bound for Egypt," Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on the X network (formerly Twitter).
A first ship loaded with grain had already left the same port safely on September 19, bound for Asia, as Ukraine seeks to establish safe maritime routes for its agricultural production, after Moscow withdrew in July from an agreement that allowed the export of Ukrainian agricultural products - essential to the country's economy and global food security - through the Black Sea.
These maritime corridors, which stretch along the coasts of allied countries to the Bosphorus Strait, defy Russian threats to sink ships entering and leaving Ukrainian ports.
Russia has not attacked these corridors, but it regularly bombards grain facilities in Ukrainian ports.
Kyiv wants to establish supply routes to Africa, which is in great need of Ukrainian production, and to counter Russian influence there, as Russian President Vladimir Putin promised this summer to deliver free grain to African countries.
Russia and Ukraine are two major agricultural powers whose production is crucial to global food security. The Russian invasion of Ukraine and international sanctions against Moscow have destabilised supply, AFP notes.
This is a positive development for global food security. Ukraine is a major exporter of wheat, corn, and sunflower oil, and the war has disrupted these exports. The safe passage of grain ships through the Black Sea is essential to ensuring that these products reach global markets.
The Ukrainian government is working to establish additional maritime corridors to export grain. This is a challenging task, as the Russian navy controls much of the Black Sea. However, the successful passage of two ships is a sign that it is possible to circumvent the blockade.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
