Russia's attacks fail to affect Ukrainian maritime corridor: 85 ships are on approaches to ports

Tymur Tkachenko, Deputy Minister of Community and Territorial Development, told Interfax-Ukraine.

According to him, exports from Ukraine via the sea corridor are currently growing.

In the first 10 days of October, the volume of exports through the sea corridor reached 2.1 million tons, of which 1.5 million tons were grain.

For comparison, in October 2023, 1.9 million tons were exported through the Black Sea ports, of which 1.4 million tons were grain.

Currently, 85 vessels are heading to Ukrainian ports.

"The Russians are not giving up their hopes of disrupting the work of the sea corridor. We all understand that their main goal is to completely deprive us of export opportunities and thus affect Ukraine's economy. We have to realize that these attacks are felt in different parts of the world where our grain is shipped. However, the situation with attacks on civilian vessels remains tense," Tkachenko said.

According to the Deputy Minister, critical infrastructure facilities are protected by engineering structures. This includes approach channels, berths, transformer substations, buildings and diesel generator sets. On the recommendation of the General Staff, seaport facilities in the Black Sea are equipped with boom barriers.

Gabions and reinforced concrete blocks are also used to protect the energy infrastructure of the ports, which prevent enemy drones from entering.

"However, even with these means, the enemy can use missiles of various types, which is why we need a comprehensive approach to ensuring the safety of people and infrastructure. The defense must be strengthened by air defense means with the support of our partners," emphasized Tkachenko.

Ukraine has a guarantee mechanism in place that provides compensation for damage caused by Russia's armed aggression, in particular for operators and owners of ships while they are in the country's territorial sea. To date, no payments have been made under this mechanism, the official said.

What is known about the work of the grain corridor

In July 2023, 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. 

In August 2023, 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.