Ukraine is moving forward with grain exports, ready to load five ships bound for Africa and Europe despite Russia’s withdrawal from the Black Sea grain initiative. This update comes from Bloomberg, citing Alexander Kubrakov, Ukraine’s Minister of Communities, Regions and Infrastructure Development, and confirms the country’s continued commitment to sustaining shipments from its Black Sea ports.
Documents show that the five vessels are currently en route to Ukrainian ports along the Black Sea coast. The routes point to the trio of key ports often referred to as the Great Odessa cluster, located in Odessa, Yuzhny, and Chernomorsk (formerly Ilyichevsk). The ships are expected to carry a total of about 120,000 tons of grain destined for markets in Africa and Europe.
Shipping trackers indicate that the vessels are traversing a temporary sea corridor established to maintain safe passage. This corridor was created and is being managed by the Ukrainian Navy to ensure uninterrupted flow amid ongoing tensions in the region.
Kiev has underscored that its efforts to create a secure maritime route for grain exports remain intact, even without the expansion of the food initiative. Ukrainian authorities have signaled they will pursue alternative routes and continued negotiations to safeguard shipments in the near term.
Reuters reported on September 26 that a cargo vessel departed from the port of Odessa and headed into the Black Sea, though additional details were not published at that time. This development highlights continued activity at terminals on the Ukrainian coast as the country works to stabilize supply chains for international buyers.
In related discussions, the Turkish National Security Council held a meeting focused on the future of the grain agreement and how regional allies might influence ongoing export flows. The dialogue reflects broader regional concern about food security and the resilience of supply chains in the Black Sea region.