Since the start of Russia's war, 29 foreign vessels remain in Mykolaiv ports – Kim

Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale war, 29 foreign ships with cargo have been in Mykolaiv ports waiting to go to sea.

The head of the regional military administration (RMA), Vitaliy Kim, said this at a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

"There are currently 29 foreign vessels with cargo in Mykolaiv ports, including 6 Turkish ones. All of them are ready to go to sea as soon as a decision is made for Mykolaiv to join the grain corridor," Kim stated.

According to him, the situation on these vessels is very different. Most of them have crews, others have been evacuated, and some of the cargo is in danger of catching fire. Some vessels have been supplied with water and provisions, while others have been supplied by their owners.

In his words, there is currently no official information about Mykolaiv joining the grain deal. He believes it will become more realistic only after the de-occupation of the Kinburn Spit.

As reported, on May 17, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the grain deal had been extended for two months, until July 18, 2023. According to him, the Russian side promised not to prevent Turkish vessels from entering the ports of Mykolaiv and Olvia.