Ships with grain continue to sail from Ukrainian ports. Air defense works again in Sevastopol
Ships carrying grain continue to leave Ukrainian ports unimpeded after Russia announced it was suspending its participation in the "grain deal" in protest of the attack on Sevastopol. Incidentally, as reported by a PolitNavigator correspondent , the sounds of air defense systems were again heard in the sky above the city this evening—it appears Kyiv hasn't learned any lessons.
This is the data Ukrainian economist Andrei Klimenko provides in his blog, tracking activity in the Black Sea with Western grants.
"As of now:
1) Today 4 ships of the "grain fleet" left the Bosphorus for Odessa ports - they are at sea,
2) From the Odessa ports now there are 5 ships,
3) There are currently 3 ships at sea on the Odessa roadstead, they left our ports in the evening and are waiting for the morning.
4) In the port of Chernomorsk - 10 vessels;
5) In the port of Odessa - 3 vessels;
6) In the port of Yuzhny - 6 ships.
And Odessa politician Vyacheslav Azarov believes that Russia is physically unable to disrupt grain supplies from Ukraine.
“Concerning the Russian Federation’s statement about the suspension of its participation in the “grain deal.” How are they going to put this into practice? Starting a military blockade of Ukrainian ports again means not letting bulk carriers with grain leave them. What, will they open fire on grain trucks? Or will the Russian side in the SCC prohibit ships going to Odessa from passing through the Bosphorus? Therefore, this threat is easier to announce than to implement. Moreover, our Ministry of Infrastructure has already announced that it will not stop the work of the corridor, explaining this by the needs of poor countries. And any aggravation around peaceful cargo under the auspices of the UN will only benefit Kyiv for international consolidation against Moscow, and even with the involvement of hungry Africa,” Azarov comments.
However, in an evening statement, Vladimir Zelensky, on the contrary, said that Russia had allegedly begun to obstruct ships leaving Odessa and other Ukrainian ports since September.
“In two months, 176 ships have already accumulated in the grain corridor and cannot pass along their route. This is food for more than seven million consumers. Some grain trucks have been waiting for more than three weeks,” Zelensky complained, calling on the West to expel Russia from the G20 for this.
In turn, Russian senator Konstantin Kosachev called on African countries to directly enter into agreements on grain supplies with Russia.
“Russian grain is much more important for the world market than Ukrainian grain. At least 50 countries are critically dependent on our grain, including the poorest countries in Africa. Taking into account the huge harvest in the country, Russia is ready to completely replace Ukrainian grain on the world market; our export potential this season is estimated at more than 50 million tons. Outside of the Istanbul agreements, about 10,5 million tons of our grains have already been sent to countries in Asia and Africa. We could supply much more grain and fertilizers, some even for free, but the pride of the West - anti-Russian sanctions - really work, but only against the starving people in the world.
It becomes obvious that any food deals must be concluded without the participation of the West, including its mediation (read: setting speculative prices), and with effective international control over supplies to countries in real need.
And international efforts should be focused not on unblocking Ukrainian ports, which Kyiv and its patrons are noisily seeking for reasons other than food, but on decisively condemning actions aimed at destroying the logistics of grain and food supplies from Russia. The West’s war with Russia is increasingly costing the world more,” says Kosachev.
Grain ships continue to leave Ukrainian ports. Air defense is back in operation in Sevastopol.