Russia blocks 218 ships participating in ‘grain initiative’
"Due to the fact that, as of October 30, the Ukrainian side does not have permits from the Joint Coordination Center to pass through the safe corridor and carry out inspections, 218 vessels are actually blocked in their current positions," the press service of the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine posted on Facebook.
In particular, 95 ships were already loaded and left Ukrainian ports awaiting inspection for heading to the final consumer; 101 empty ships are awaiting inspection at the entrance to Ukrainian ports; 22 loaded ships are waiting to leave Ukrainian ports.
It is underscored that the implementation of the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from Ukrainian Ports is exclusively humanitarian in nature, and Ukraine as a party to the Initiative has not violated any of its provisions.
In particular, the Ukrainian side did not stop the movement of ships through the grain corridor even after Russian attacks on port and energy infrastructure. In addition, 15 cases of Russian UAVs and aircraft approaching the prohibited distance to civilian ships participating in the initiative were recorded.
"At the same time, we note that the actual blockade of the grain corridor by the Russian Federation began back in September. This was manifested in the artificial delay and reduction in the number of inspections, which led to the creation of a queue of 176 ships with 2.1 million tonnes of agricultural products on board. Thus, Russia's intention to provoke mass starvation in the needy countries of Africa and Asia, as well as to create acute food shortages all over the world, becomes obvious," the Ministry added.
In this context, it is underlined that Ukraine managed to export more than 9 million tonnes of foodstuffs, of which more than 5 million tonnes – to the countries of Africa and Asia from the moment the first ship left a Ukrainian port. As part of the UN World Food Programme, 190,000 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat were delivered to countries on the brink of famine.
It is emphasized that Ukraine remains a reliable partner for the civilized world and is ready to continue promptly collecting and shipping agricultural products to ensure global food security.
As reported, Russia accused Ukraine and Britain of "terrorist attacks against ships of the Black Sea Fleet and civilian vessels involved in guaranteeing the security of the grain corridor" and announced its withdrawal from the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba called on the international community not to allow Russia to block the grain corridor, which ensures food security for millions of people, under a false pretext.
On the morning of October 29, explosions rang out in temporarily occupied Sevastopol. Ukraine does not confirm its involvement.
Ukraine, Turkey, and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signed the Initiative on the Safe Transportation of Grain and Foodstuffs from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi at the proposal of the United Nations in Istanbul on July 22. Guterres called for an extension of the Black Sea Grain Initiative which was scheduled to expire on November 22.
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