First Ukrainian grain shipment arrives in Turkish waters

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The first grain ship departing Ukraine since Russia’s invasion arrived in Turkish waters on Wednesday following an agreement between the two conflicting countries struck last month under the auspices of Ankara.

Loading 26,000 tons of corn, the Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni arrived in Istanbul from the Ukrainian port of Odessa.

The ship's final destination is Lebanon, but its first stop was Istanbul where it arrived for inspection by officials from Russia, Ukraine, and the United Nations to make sure it is not carrying weapons or other non-food items.

Russia’s war on Ukraine intensified food shortages as Moscow blocked Kyiv’s ports.

The resumption of the exportation of Ukrainian grain is widely welcomed in the world and this move has been viewed as helping alleviate the global food crisis that has plagued the world since February.

The Razoni was “loaded with two commodities in short supply: corn and hope. Hope for millions of people around the world who depend on the smooth running of Ukraine’s ports to feed their families," United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday, adding that the resumption of the exportation of Ukrainian grain from Odessa is "an important starting point."

Russia and Ukraine sealed the landmark grain deal in late July.