Ukraine’s ports are gradually opening as three more ships loaded with food are due to leave

Three more ships will leave Black Sea ports loaded with food Friday morning under a grain deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, officials announced.

Two of the ships will depart from the port of Chernomorsk and another will depart from a port in Odesa with a combined total of more than 58,000 tons of corn.

“We expect professionalism from everyone involved,” Ukrainian Infrastructure Minister Alexander Kubrakov wrote on Facebook.

A security guard stands next to the Navi-Star ship, which is full of grain.
(AP Photo/David Goldman)

Under the agreement officials reached on July 22, ships can leave the ports of Odesa, Chernomorsk and Yuzhny with grain, corn and related food.

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The deal appeared to be in jeopardy on July 23 when Russia launched a series of missile attacks off the coast of Ukraine, but the first ship with 26,000 tonnes of corn left this week.

Security personnel stand outside a grain storage terminal in Odesa, Ukraine.
(AP Photo/David Goldman)

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February has depressed food prices worldwide, as both countries are key players in the global commodity market.

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The UN FAO food price index, which reflects international prices of a basket of food commodities, rose 23% in June compared to the same time last year.