The United Nations and Turkey in July brokered a deal between Kyiv and Moscow, which had been blocking Ukrainian maritime exports since Russia invaded the country in February.
The ship Sacura, which left the Ukrainian port of Pivdennyi on Monday, was carrying 11,000 tons of soybeans to Italy, while the Arizona, which set sail from Chernomorsk, was carrying 48,548 tons of corn to the city of Iskenderun in southeastern Turkey, the Turkish defense ministry reported.
A total of 10 ships have now been authorized to depart from Ukraine's Black Sea ports under the grain deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Four ships left Ukraine on Sunday and were expected to anchor near Istanbul by Monday evening.
Polish state news agency PAP reported that the resumption of grain exports was being overseen by the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul, with Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian and United Nations personnel.
Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov announced that his country would soon begin exporting grain from Ukraine’s biggest port of Pivdennyi, which would allow a total of at least 3 million tons of goods to be shipped per month.
Before the Russian invasion, Ukraine exported up to 6 million tons of grain per month from its Black Sea and Sea of Azov ports.
(jh/gs)
Source: PAP