KIEV: The Ukrainian Naval Forces announced in a statement that operations have restarted in three Ukrainian Black Sea ports: Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdenny, in accordance with a grain exports agreement struck between Kiev and Moscow last week in Istanbul.
According to the statement, work is currently ongoing to prepare the ports for safe sailing, with military and civilian experts looking for underwater items and installing specific navigation equipment. The ships passing through Ukrainian ports will form a caravan, which will be led by a lead ship for further protection, the statement said.
Ukraine and Russia inked a separate agreement with Turkiye and the UN in Istanbul on July 22 to resume grain shipments from Ukrainian ports to foreign markets via the Black Sea.
President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that the agreement will allow Ukraine to export 20 million tonnes of grain crop in 2021 as well as a portion of this year's harvest.
Ukraine indicated on Monday that some exports could resume "this week." According to the navy's statement, when exports start, cargo ships would be escorted to and from ports. "Ships will enter and exit seaports by establishing a convoy that will accompany the lead ship," the statement stated, adding that safe routes were still being decided.
Russia and Ukraine are significant agricultural exporters, but Moscow's invasion has seriously hindered Ukrainian wheat exports by damaging harvests and blocking and mining ports.
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