The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain left the port of Odessa on Monday morning as part of an internationally brokered deal expected to release large stores of Ukrainian crops to foreign markets amid a global food crisis. The Sierra Leone-flagged cargo ship Razoni left Odessa for Lebanon, Turkey’s Defense Ministry announced. According to a United Nations statement, the Razoni was carrying more than 26,000 tons of corn. Razoni is expected to arrive in Istanbul on Tuesday. It will then be inspected before being allowed to continue its journey. Lebanon is currently in an economic crisis. A 2020 explosion in Beirut’s central port devastated the capital and destroyed grain silos there, part of which collapsed after a week-long fire as recently as Sunday. Ukrainian agriculture tycoon killed by Russian bombing, ZELENSKYY says In this photo provided by the Presidential Press Office of Ukraine, a Turkish cargo ship Polarnet loads Ukrainian grain at a port in Ukraine’s Odesa region, Friday, July 29, 2022. (Press Office of the Presidential Press of Ukraine via AP) “Today Ukraine, together with partners, is taking another step towards preventing world hunger,” said Alexander Kubrakov, Ukraine’s Minister of Infrastructure. He said he would also help Ukraine. “Unlocking the ports will provide at least $1 billion in foreign exchange earnings to the economy and an opportunity for the agricultural sector to plan for the coming year,” Kubrakov said. CHILDREN TRAUMATED BY WAR IN UKRAINE FIND MENTORS FROM UNEXPECTED PLACES Security personnel stand in front of a grain storage terminal at the Odessa Seaport, in Odessa, Ukraine, Friday, July 29, 2022. (AP Photo/David Goldman) Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements with Turkey and the UN Under the accords, Russia agreed not to attack Ukrainian naval vessels or port infrastructure as Ukraine tries to offload 22 million tons of grain to vulnerable and developing countries from Odesa, Chornomorsk and Yuzhne. A security officer stands next to the Navi-Star ship that has been sitting full of grain since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began five months ago as it waits to depart from the Odessa seaport, in Odessa, Ukraine, Friday, July 29, 2022. (AP Photo/David Goldman) CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The agreements also allow Russia to export grain and fertilizer. However, Russia hit Odessa with a missile strike on Saturday, followed by several attacks a few days later in Odessa’s coastal cities of Yuzhne and Zatoka. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Lorraine Taylor is a contributing editor at Fox News. News tips can be sent to [email protected] or on Twitter @LorraineEMT.
