Second ship leaves Odesa port after Russia withdraws from grain deal
On Saturday, August 26, the second vessel left the port of Odesa after Russia announced the termination of the grain agreement on July 16, 2023.
This was announced by Andriy Klymenko, project manager of the Black Sea Institute for Strategic Studies.
“The 2nd is gone. Let’s keep our fingers crossed, we believe in the Armed Forces and the Navy,” the message reads.
It is noted that the bulk carrier PRIMUS left Odesa around 9 am. He has been in Ukraine since February 20, 2022.
According to Klymenko, the ship is scheduled to arrive in Varna, Bulgaria, on Sunday, August 27.
What is known about the work of the grain corridor
On July 17, Russia announced the termination of the grain agreement. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia’s withdrawal from the agreement.
On July 30, despite the completion of the grain deal, three civilian cargo ships of foreign origin passed the Russian blockade in the Black Sea and anchored in one of Ukraine’s grain ports in the Danube Delta.
On August 4, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that Ukraine would send ships with its own grain to wherever it deems necessary and would not ask anyone for permission.
On August 10, the Ukrainian Navy announced a temporary humanitarian corridor for merchant ships sailing to and from Ukrainian ports.
On August 16, the first ship left Odesa after Russia announced that it was suspending the grain deal. On the same day, the UN Food Organization emphasized the need to renew the grain agreement to overcome the global crisis.
