First cargo vessel from Ukraine to challenge Russian blockade reaches Turkish waters safely on Thursday

The Hong Kong-flagged vessel named Joseph Schulte left Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Odessa, after Moscow’s refusal to extend the Black Sea grain deal. This agreement had previously ensured safe passage for civilian ships traveling to and from Ukrainian ports.

The ship had been trapped in Odessa for over a year and was carrying more than 30,000 tons of cargo. It sailed through a corridor established for civilian vessels traveling to and from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the ship’s departure an important step toward restoring freedom of navigation in the Black Sea.

After the expiration of the Black Sea grain deal, Ukraine announced its intention to create an alternative corridor for the safe passage of civilian vessels. In response, Russia increased attacks on Ukrainian grain storage facilities and ports, effectively blockading ships traveling to and from the Ukrainian Black Sea coast.

The ship Joseph Schulte navigated through Romanian and Bulgarian waters to reach its final destination, the northwestern Turkish port of Ambarli. The route is intended primarily for evacuating ships that were in ports during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Despite talks of alternative routes for grain shipments, the Turkish Defense Ministry indicated that Ankara was still focused on reviving the original deal. Escalating tensions led to a Russian armed forces raid on a cargo carrier owned by a Turkish citizen off Turkey’s northwest coast, which Moscow referred to as an “inspection.”

The Black Sea grain deal, established by Turkey and the United Nations, was a response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which had blocked Ukrainian food exports, particularly grain, from reaching global markets. Around 40 countries depended on Ukraine’s grain exports. Global grain prices surged when Russia refused to extend the deal.