Second vessel leaves Odesa Port after Russia’s grain deal exit

On the morning of August 26, 2023, the bulk carrier PRIMUS left the water area of Odesa Port, which is the second vessel to have departed from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports since Russia terminated the Grain Deal.

The relevant statement was made by Head of the Institute of the Black Sea Strategic Studies Andrii Klymenko on Facebook, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“The second [vessel] has set off. We keep our fingers crossed and trust in the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Naval Forces,” Klymenko wrote.

According to Klymenko, the ship is sailing for Bulgaria’s Port of Varna. The estimated arrival time is 01:00 p.m., August 27, 2023.

PRIMUS had been staying in Ukraine since February 20, 2022. During Russia’s blockade of Ukrainian sea ports, the vessel changed the owner, as well as the name and flag.

A reminder that, on August 16, 2023, the container ship JOSEPH SCHULTE, flying the flag of Hong Kong, became the first vessel to have left Ukraine’s Black Sea ports since Russia’s withdrawal from the Grain Deal.

Russia used to announce that any vessels sailing towards Ukrainian ports would be viewed as military targets. Starting from July 21, 2023, Ukraine declared all Russian vessels in the Black Sea as those carrying military goods.

Photo: Andrii Klymenko, Facebook