Over 7 mln tons of cargo transported via Black Sea grain corridor – UN report

The UN estimates that about 7 billion metric tons of goods have been transported through the humanitarian corridors in the Black Sea, often attacked by Russian forces, says the head of the Humanitarian Affairs department Ramesh Rajasingham.

About 70% of the transported harvest is grain and other food products. Considering other routes, the total volume of food exports from Ukraine last month was comparable to November last year.

"However, significant risks related to air strikes and maritime obstacles remain, and Ukraine's seaports continue to operate well below their potential capacity," said Ramesh Rajasingham.

On July 17, Russia sent objections to Turkey, Ukraine, and the UN regarding the extension of the grain deal and said that without its participation, the agreement would expire on July 18. Moscow would withdraw guarantees of navigation safety and close the maritime humanitarian corridor in the northwestern Black Sea.

The UN confirmed that it had received a notice from Moscow that it would stop participating in the Black Sea Grain Initiative.

Subsequently, President Volodymyr Zelensky said he had sent official letters to Turkish President Erdogan and UN Secretary-General Guterres with a proposal to continue the grain deal or its analog in a trilateral format.

As the Russian Defense Ministry announced on the evening of July 19, starting July 20, Russia will consider all ships sailing in the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports as potential carriers of military cargo.

On July 20, Ukraine's Defense Ministry warned that starting at 00:00 on July 21, all vessels sailing in the Black Sea towards Russian seaports and Ukrainian seaports located in occupied areas may be considered as carrying military cargo with all the corresponding risks.

Ukraine announced a "humanitarian corridor" to free up ships bound for African and Asian markets and to circumvent a de facto blockade by Russia after Moscow reneged on a deal that guaranteed its exports during the war.

On August 10, 2023, Ukraine announced new temporary routes for merchant ships sailing to/from the Black Sea ports but warned that the military threat and mine danger from Russia remained on all routes.