Five Ships Loaded With Grain, Corn Leave Ukraine's Ports - Turkish Defense Ministry

ANKARA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 16th August, 2022) Five general cargo ships loaded with Ukrainian food products on Tuesday left the ports of Ukraine and are on their way to Istanbul under the UN-brokered grain deal, the Turkish Defense Ministry said.

"Five vessels with a cargo of grain and corn have left the Ukrainian ports - two from Yuzhne and three from Chornomorsk," a statement read.

The ministry added that the Joint Coordination Center, established under the grain deal, will inspect four other ships that are waiting for their departure for Ukraine.

On July 22, Russia, Ukraine, and Turkey signed an UN-brokered initiative to provide a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships with food and fertilizer exports from Black Sea ports. Three key Ukrainian ports - Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhne - were unblocked to resume exports. A joint coordination center was set up to monitor the implementation of the initiative, including ensuring that cargo ships do not carry unauthorized goods or personnel.