Ukraine launches ‘humanitarian corridor’ for cargo ships in Black Sea

The Ukrainian Navy reported the information.

"According to the order of the Navigational Order of the Ukrainian Navy No. 6 dated 08.08.2023, new temporary routes for civilian vessels to/from the Black Sea ports of Ukraine were announced. At the same time, it is reported that the military threat and mine danger from the Russian Federation remains along all routes," the statement said.

Earlier, Ukraine had already proposed these routes in an appeal to the International Maritime Organization (IMO). The IMO Council recognized the right to free trade navigation and called on Russia to comply with international conventions and stop creating threats in the Black Sea.

These routes will be used primarily to allow civilian vessels that have been in the Ukrainian ports of Chornomorsk, Odesa, and Pivdennyi since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion to leave.

Only vessels whose owners or captains officially confirm their readiness to sail in the current conditions will be allowed to use the routes.

The last ship carrying Ukrainian food reportedly left the port of Odesa on July 16. Following Russia's withdrawal from the grain deal, the country has attacked port grain infrastructure in an effort to cut off Ukrainian food from accessing world markets.

Oleh Chalyk, a spokesman for Ukraine’s Navy, told Reuters that a new temporary humanitarian corridor was opened as of August 10. The first ships will use it within a few days.

"Today a new temporary humanitarian corridor has started to work. The corridor will be very transparent, we will put cameras on the ships and there will be a broadcast to show that this is purely a humanitarian mission and has no military purpose," Chalyk said.

Operation 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 Sunday, July 30, despite the completion of the grain deal, three civilian cargo ships of foreign origin passed the Russian blockade in the Black Sea and anchored in one of Ukraine's grain ports in the Danube Delta.

On August 4, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary, Oleksiy Danilov, declared that the country will dispatch its own ships carrying grain wherever they deem necessary, without seeking permission from anyone.