Greater Odessa ports continue receiving vessels via temporary corridor - Ukrainian deputy PM

MOSCOW. Oct 27 (Interfax) - The Greater Odessa ports continue to receive vessels via an temporary corridor, Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for the Development of Communities, Territories and Infrastructure Alexander Kubrakov said on social media, denying reports that this temporary route has been closed or suspended, Ukrainian media outlets said.

"The information regarding the cancellation or unscheduled stoppage of the temporary Ukrainian corridor for the movement of civilian vessels from and to the Greater Odessa ports is false. All established routes are valid and being used by civilian vessels," Kubrakov said.

The corridor's functioning has been dependent on weather conditions, he said.

Twenty-three vessels are now being loaded in the Odessa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny ports, the ministry said. Fifty-one vessels have used the temporary corridor since it was opened on September 16. Thirty-three vessels have already exported more than 1.3 million tonnes of Ukrainian agricultural products and other cargo.

The Barva Invest consultancy firm said earlier that the use of the Black Sea corridor by inbound and outbound vessel was suspended as of October 26.

The Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority late on October 25 announced the suspension of the corridor effective from October 26. The measure has de facto been valid for the past two days.