31 Oct 2022 13:36

Kiev says vessels carrying agricultural produce again departing Ukrainian ports

MOSCOW. Oct 31 (Interfax) - The Ikaria Angel bulker carrying 40,000 tonnes of grain for Ethiopia and a number of other vessels left Ukrainian ports on Monday morning after a pause that followed Russia's statement on suspending the operation of the grain corridor, Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov said.

"These products are intended for Ethiopian people facing a real possibility of mass famine," Ukrainian media quoted Kubrakov as saying on his social media account.

The Ikaria Angel is the seventh vessel chartered by the United Nations Food Program under the Black Sea grain initiative, he said.

The Infrastructure Ministry said 12 vessels left the Odessa, Chernomorsk, and Yuzhny (Pivdenny) ports on Monday to carry in total 354,500 tonnes of agricultural produce to countries of Africa, Asia, and Europe.

Four other vessels that on Sunday underwent Joint Coordination Center inspections involving all parties, including Russian representatives, have been cleared to enter Ukrainian ports to be loaded with foodstuffs, it said.