Mission Nearly Complete: Ukraine's 1st Grain Shipment Clears Inspection
The first shipment of grain from Ukraine since Russia's invasion in February is one step closer to reaching its final destination of Lebanon. According to Reuters, the United Nations said the shipment of over 26,000 tons of corn was cleared to proceed on Wednesday.
The Razoni vessel can now proceed through the Bosphorus Strait, an internationally significant waterway located in northwestern Turkey. The ship was inspected by officials from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey and the UN. Reuters reports a three-hour inspection conducted be a team confirmed the crew and cargo were authorized to proceed.
As reported by AgWeb earlier this week, the Razoni, which weighed anchor at the port of Odesa, was led by a government vessel through mines that had been laid by Ukrainian forces to forestall any attempt by Moscow to launch an amphibious assault on Odesa. It's part of a grain deal brokered by Turkey to help address the world's grain and food supply concerns.
A rescue ship followed and Russia’s Navy, which controls the Black Sea, granted safe passage. The Razoni was carrying 26,527 metric tons of corn, the United Nations said. The vessel had been stuck in port since Feb. 18, before the start of the war.
Related News: Russia Hits Southern Ukraine City, Killing Owner of One of the Country's Largest Grain Exporting Companies
The shipment news came just a day after Ukraine confirmed Oleksiy Vadatursky, Ukraine grain tycoon, was killed in Russian shelling of Mykolaiv. He was killed with his wife in a "massive" Russian shelling of the southern city of Mykolaiv. They died when a missile hit their home overnight, local officials said.
Reports say there are 16 more ships waiting to leave Odesa in coming days. Ukraine’s agriculture minister, Mykola Solskyi, said last week that there was $10 billion worth of grain stored in Ukraine and that the incoming harvest would add a further $20 billion to that amount.
Zelenskiy Says Shipment is Fraction of Needed Exports
According to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskiy is still casting doubt on how much grain can actually be exported. He made the comments during a video to college students in Australia on Wednesday.
Reuters reports Zelenskiy says the first shipment is carrying a faction of the crop Kyiv should promote to salvage the hurting economy. He says Ukraine needs to export a minimal 10 million tonnes of grain to urgently assist deliver down its price range deficit which was operating at $5 billion a month.
“Only recently, because of the UN in partnership with Turkey, we had a primary ship with the supply of grain, nevertheless it’s nonetheless nothing. However we hope it’s an inclination that may proceed,” said Zelenskiy according to Reuters.
