‘A day of relief’: First grain ship leaves Ukraine under Russia deal aimed at easing a global food crisis

Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni departs from Black Sea port of Odesa for Istanbul

The first ship carrying grain has left the Ukrainian port of Odesa since Russia’s invasion as part of a deal to unblock the country’s ports, according to reports.

Ukraine’s infrastructure minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov, tweeted: “The first grain ship since #RussianAggression has left port. Thanks to the support of all our partner countries & UN we were able to fully implement the agreement signed in Istanbul.”

The first ship to carry Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea since Russia invaded Ukraine five months ago left the port of Odesa for Lebanon on Monday under a safe passage deal described as a glimmer of hope in a worsening global food crisis.

The Sierra Leone-flagged ship Razoni will head to the port of Tripoli, Lebanon, after transiting the Bosphorus Strait linking the Black Sea, which is dominated by Russia’s navy, to the Mediterranean. It is carrying 26,527 tonnes of corn.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24 has led to a worldwide food and energy crisis and the United Nations has warned of the risk of multiple famines this year.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he hoped Tuesday’s departure would be the first of many such cargos and that the U.N. would charter a ship to replenish supplies of aid.

“People on the verge of famine need these agreements to work, in order to survive,” Guterres told reporters in New York. “Countries on the verge of bankruptcy need these agreements to work, in order to keep their economies alive.”

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called it a “day of relief for the world, especially for our friends in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa.”

The Razoni (Oleksandr Kubrakov)

Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements with Turkey and the UN, clearing the way for Ukraine to export 22 million tonnes of grain and other agricultural goods that have been stuck in Black Sea ports because of Russia’s invasion.

According to the UN World Food Programme, the conflict has left as many as 47 million people globally at risk of acute hunger.

Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni, centre with white masts, docked at the port in Odesa, Ukraine (AP)

The Razoni is the first ship to depart from Odesa since late February. Another 16 ships are awaiting departure, the Ukrainian government has said.

Additional reporting from agencies