Ukraine’s Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov announced on Monday that the country’s sea shipments of grain, halted by the ongoing conflict, are expected to resume within the week.
The plan involves ships departing Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea under the framework of the Istanbul agreement signed on July 22. This was reported in Kiev, with the Interfax agency quoting the minister during a public address.
Officials estimate that reopening the ports could unlock roughly 3 million tons of grain exports each month, potentially adding about $1 billion in revenue for Ukraine as a result of the increased trade flow.
Kubrakov noted that a coordination center to be based in Istanbul would oversee the pipeline of humanitarian shipments and grain exports. The center is expected to begin operations on Wednesday, July 27, to supervise the grain corridor implementation.
He stressed that the center’s responsibilities will not extend into Ukraine’s territorial waters, reiterating that only Ukrainian authorities will manage and guarantee the processes within Ukraine.
Aisles for grain shipments
Mine clearance operations will be carried out specifically in the corridors designated for grain movement, and all ships will be escorted by vessels from Ukraine’s Ministry of Infrastructure to ensure safe passage.
Deputy Infrastructure Minister Yuri Vaskov indicated that if all goes as planned, the first grain shipment could depart from the port of Chornomorsk, located in the Odessa region, within the coming days.
He added that the ports of Odessa and Pivdenny will follow this initial step and confirmed that within two weeks the ministry would be technically ready to export from all terminals across the three ports involved.
The agreement, reached last week with the support of the United Nations and Turkey, aims to create a sea corridor to ease the food crisis caused by Russia’s blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea ports.
Nevertheless, after Saturday’s attack on the commercial port of Odessa, Ukraine accused Russia of undermining the relief effort and warned that if the deal collapses, Russia would bear full responsibility for any disruption to grain exports and humanitarian aid.