Despite the Russian announcement that it would not allow further exports via the Black Sea, three freighters have left Ukrainian ports. A UN spokeswoman in Istanbul said that the Ukrainian, Turkish and UN delegations, who work together in a specially set up center according to the grain agreement, had agreed on this. The Russian delegation had been informed. The grain agreement actually provides for controls with representatives of all four delegations. According to UN data, among the ships is the “SSI Challenger” loaded with corn and bound for Germany.
Two representatives control
The inspection of ships in Istanbul will be carried out by representatives of the UN and Turkey, it said. 46 investigations were completed on Monday. The ships are inspected to make sure they don’t have any weapons loaded or anything like that.
Russia suspended the agreement mediated by Turkey and the UN on Saturday. Moscow cited drone attacks by Kiev on its Black Sea fleet as justification. Ukraine used the protection of the corridor for these attacks. At a UN Security Council meeting in New York on Monday, Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebensia said Moscow “cannot allow unhindered passage of ships without our inspection.”
According to the UN, 9.8 million tons of goods have been shipped under the initiative so far.