Two cargo ships successfully navigated the Black Sea on a newly discovered path, according to Ukrainian port authorities and arrived at the port.
Resilient Africa and Aroyat, the two ships, arrrived at Chornomorsk on a Saturday with plans to load 20,000 tonnes of wheat for export.
Since a contract with Russia that had previously guaranteed the safety of ships was terminated.
This is the first case of civilian ships entering a Ukrainian port, according to officials.
Deputy prime minister Oleksandr Kubrakov revealed that people from Egypt, Ukraine, Turkey and Azerbaijan made up the crews of these ships, which were flying the flags of Pacific Island of Palau.
These ships will deliver wheat to Egypt and Israel, according to the agricultural ministry of Ukraine.
This move comes after Russia decided to leave a deal adopted by the United nation in July that had allowed Ukraine to transport grain from Chornomorsk and two other Black Sea ports.
In addition to claiming that certain sections of the agreement, which the export of its food and fertilizers, were not even enforced, Russian raised concerns about how Wesern sanctions may harm its agricultural exports.
Russia had already threatened to punish civilian ships sailing towards Ukraine harshly because it views them as potential military threat.
Recently, the UK accused Russia of firing multiple cruise missiles at one such ship while it was barthed at the Ukrainian port of Odesa.
In February 2022, Russia imposed a blockade on Ukraine, a significant exporter of crops like sunflower, oil, barley, maize and wheat. As a result 20 million tonnes of grain for sale were lost.
In the Midde East and Africa, particularly Yemen, Sudan, Ethiopia and Afghanistan, this resulted to rising food cost and potential food shortages.
In order to impede operations, Moscow has also targeted the Izmail and Reni ports in Ukraine.
Ukraine claims that Russia is making a “cynical” effort to hurt its grain exports.
