New shipment of grain vessels reaches Ukraine via an innovative route

Two cargo ships have recently arrived at a Ukrainian port using a new route through the Black Sea, according to Ukrainian port authorities. The vessels, named Resilient Africa and Aroyat, reached Chornomorsk on Saturday and are scheduled to load 20,000 tonnes of wheat destined for global markets. This marks the first time civilian ships have reached a Ukrainian port since the collapse of a deal with Russia that ensured the safety of vessels. Previously, this route had only been used by ships departing from Ukraine. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov stated that the ships flew the flag of Palau, an Oceanic island nation, and had a crew comprising individuals from Ukraine, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Egypt. Ukraine's agricultural ministry confirmed that the wheat would be delivered to Egypt and Israel. The arrival of these ships comes after Russia abandoned a UN-backed agreement in July, which had facilitated Ukrainian grain exports from Chornomorsk and two other Black Sea ports. Russia claimed that parts of the agreement regarding the export of its food and fertilizers were not honored and also criticized Western sanctions for restricting its agricultural exports. Following the collapse of the agreement, Russia has threatened to consider civilian ships traveling to Ukraine as potential military targets. Earlier this week, the UK accused Russia of targeting a vessel with multiple cruise missiles while it was docked in the Ukrainian port of Odesa. Ukraine is a major global supplier of crops such as sunflower oil, barley, maize, and wheat. When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, its navy blockaded the country's Black Sea ports, leading to the trapping of 20 million tonnes of grain that were intended for export. This blockade caused a surge in global food prices and posed a threat of food shortages in Middle Eastern and African countries, which rely heavily on food imports from Ukraine. Countries like Afghanistan, Yemen, Sudan, and Ethiopia continue to require urgent humanitarian aid. In addition to targeting ships traversing the Black Sea, Russia has increasingly focused on disrupting Ukrainian port infrastructure. It has carried out multiple attacks on the ports of Izmail and Reni since July, which are crucial hubs for Ukraine's grain exports. Kyiv has accused Russia of intentionally damaging its grain exports and undermining global food security, describing these actions as "cynical."