Ukraine Sent 30 Million Tons Of Cargo Along ‘Grain Corridor’

Alternative routes are also being developed in Kyiv.

Ukraine has already exported almost 30 million tons of cargo along its “grain corridor” in the Black Sea, with 8 million tons in February 2024 alone. According to DW, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced this on Monday, March 4, after hearing a report from Deputy Prime Minister for Reconstruction Andriy Kubrakov.

“This is very important during such a war. And I am grateful to everyone who works in our ports, on ships, to everyone who ensures the operation of the sea corridor and its safety,” said the Ukrainian leader. In a post on Telegram, he added that the Ukrainian leadership “continues to develop alternative routes (for the export of agricultural products — edit.), like the Danube and through Moldova.”

On February 6, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal reported that over six months, his country exported almost 20 million tons of cargo through the Black Sea, of which 70 percent were agricultural products of Ukrainian farmers. “In just these six months, more than 660 cargo ships departed for destinations in 32 countries,” Shmyhal wrote on Telegram. According to him, in January 2024 the monthly pre-war level of exports by sea was reached. About 60 percent of exports, worth the equivalent of 2.8 billion euros, were carried out by sea this month.

Ukraine has created a new maritime corridor after Russia’s withdrawal from the “grain deal”

After Russia's attack on Ukraine, the Russian Black Sea Fleet tried to impede Ukrainian exports by sea. From July 2022 to July 2023, the “grain deal” was in force — an agreement concluded through the mediation of the UN and Turkey on Russian security guarantees for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products. However, then the Russian Federation withdrew from this deal.

After this, Kyiv was able to create a new safe sea corridor in the western part of the Black Sea. Prior to this, the Ukrainian armed forces liberated Snake Island and sank several Russian warships, including the cruiser Moskva, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.