First Ukraine grain ship passes inspection in Istanbul

The first shipment of grain from Ukraine since Russia’s invasion five months ago has passed inspection in Istanbul and was on its way to Lebanon on Wednesday, as Ukraine said 17 other vessels were “loaded and waiting permission to leave.”

The Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni’s voyage, which started at the Black Sea port of Odesa, is being watched closely for signs of how the landmark agreement signed by Moscow and Kyiv since Russia invaded its pro-Western neighbour holds.

A deal brokered by Turkey and the United Nations last month lifted a Russian naval blockade of Ukraine’s Black Sea cities and set terms for millions of tonnes of wheat and other grain to start flowing from Ukraine’s filled silos and ports.

Ukraine exports roughly half of the sunflower oil used on the world market and is one of the world’s main suppliers of grain.

Al Jazeera's Sinem Koseoglu reports from Istanbul.


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