For the first time since the conclusion of the international grain agreement, a freighter with corn from the Ukraine has reached its destination in Turkey. The Turkish-flagged ship “Polarnet” arrived in Kocaeli on the Sea of ​​Marmara southeast of Istanbul on Monday, the state-run Anadolu Agency reported. Ukrainian Minister of Infrastructure Olexander Kubrakov later confirmed the information on Twitter.
According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, ten grain ships have left Ukrainian ports so far. Two of them left Ukrainian ports on Monday. The “Sacura” – bound for Italy – loaded 11,000 tons of soybeans in Jusni, the ministry said. The “Arizona” set out from Chernomorsk for southern Turkey with 48,458 tons of corn.
The freighter “Razoni” was the first to leave on Monday last week with the destination Lebanon. His arrival, however, was further delayed.
Previously, agricultural exports via Ukraine’s Black Sea ports had been blocked since the end of February because of the Russian war of aggression against the neighboring country. On July 22, the wartime opponents signed an agreement with Turkey separately, with UN mediation, to allow grain exports from Ukraine from three ports. Inspections are intended to ensure that the ships are not transporting weapons.
