Russia blocks 218 vessels with Ukrainian grain
EUROPEAN PRAVDA – SUNDAY, 30 OCTOBER 2022, 18:28
The movement of 218 vessels transporting Ukrainian grain within the framework of the Black Sea Grain Initiative was blocked due to Russia pulling out of the agreement.
The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine stated this on Sunday, as reported by European Pravda.
Reportedly, the vessels cannot resume their movement because as of 30 October Ukraine has not received the permit needed to move across the safe corridor and conduct inspections from the United Coordinative Centre.
Of the 218 vessels that were blocked, 95 have left Ukrainian ports and are waiting to be inspected, 101 vessels are waiting for inspection to enter Ukrainian ports, and 22 more are waiting to leave Ukrainian ports.
"The Ukrainian side did not suspend the movement of cargo ships along the grain corridor even despite Russian attacks on the port and energy infrastructure. Apart from this, 15 cases of Russian UAVs and planes approaching within a prohibited distance of vessels participating in the grain initiative were registered," according to the Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine.
Turkish authorities reported earlier that outbound vessels that have already reached Istanbul are being inspected Sunday and Monday, but no new grain ships will sail from Ukraine for now.
On 29 October, Russia claimed that it was pulling out of the Grain Initiative, allegedly due to a "terrorist attack" which occurred in Sevastopol Bay earlier that morning. Russia’s Ministry of Defence has claimed that the Black Sea Fleet ships that facilitated the security of the grain corridor were allegedly the target of the Sevastopol Bay attack.
The UN has stated that it was "maintaining contact" with Russian authorities after Russia pulled out of the agreement. The EU and the USA in turn called upon Russia to resume its participation in the grain initiative.
Dmytro Kuleba, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, stated that Moscow used the attack on the Russian ships in the bay of the occupied city of Sevastopol in Crimea as a pretext to pull out of the Grain Initiative but it had started taking steps to sabotage it long before this.
It should be mentioned that the Grain Initiative was supposed to last until November. Russia threatened to pull out of the agreement if its demands were not met.
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