70 million tons of cargo transported through Ukrainian sea corridor over year - Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this on September 18.

"Despite the war and Russian terror, Ukraine continues to be a donor of global food security for dozens of countries. And we are increasing our capabilities. For more than a year, our export sea corridor has already transported 70 million tons of cargo," he wrote.

According to him, over 2,500 vessels have left Ukrainian ports during this time.

"The ports of Asia, Africa, Europe and America accept our Ukrainian cargo. Countries from Egypt to Indonesia, from Tunisia and Libya to India, from Algeria to China have received our Ukrainian grain. Thanks to the humanitarian initiative Grain from Ukraine in Ethiopia, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan, at least hundreds of thousands of families and millions of people have received the necessary food," the president emphasized.

What is known about the work of the grain corridor

On 17 July, Russia announced the termination of the grain deal. In response, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was necessary to continue using the grain corridor even despite Russia's withdrawal from the agreement. 

On August 4, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine Oleksiy Danilov said that Ukraine would send ships with its own grain to wherever it deems necessary and would not ask anyone for permission.

On August 10, the Ukrainian Navy announced a temporary humanitarian corridor for merchant ships sailing to and from Ukrainian ports.

On August 12, Ukraine opened the registration of merchant ships and their owners who are ready to use temporary routes to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea.

On August 16, the first vessel left the port of Odesa after Russia announced that it would terminate the grain deal on July 16, 2023.

As of mid-November 2023, 100 ships sailed through the Black Sea grain corridor, and as of early January 2024, 15 million tons of grain were exported from Ukraine.

As of March 10, 2024, 1,005 ships left Ukrainian ports, exporting about 30 million tons of grain.