Ukraine's Black Sea ports receive influx of cargo ships

Five more cargo ships are en route to Ukrainian sea ports using a newly opened corridor to resume agricultural exports, as an alternative to the blocked Black Sea grain deal with Russia. Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov announced that the vessels, including bulk carriers OLGA, IDA, DANNY BOY, FORZA DORIA, and NEW LEGACY, will export nearly 120,000 metric tons of Ukrainian grain to Africa and Europe. Additionally, three bulk carriers, Azara, Ying Hao 01, and Eneida, have already left Ukrainian ports carrying 127,000 tons of agricultural products and iron ore through a temporary corridor established by the Ukrainian Navy. Russia had closed off the Black Sea ports last year, but they were reopened in July 2022 under a UN and Turkey-brokered deal that Russia later quit, leading to the reimposition of the blockade.