The Russian defense ministry has promised to offer a safe passageway for Western ships leaving Black Sea ports, Russian state news agency Interfax reported Wednesday.
According to reports, the Russian defense ministry has announced the opening of two safety lanes for foreign ships leaving ports on the Black and Azov Seas between the hours of 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. Moscow time.
Colonel-General Mikhail Mizintsev of the Russian General Staff's National Defence Control Centre said 70 foreign ships from 16 nations are currently docked in six Black Sea ports, including Mariupol, Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolaiv.
He said that fire from Ukraine was a concern and that mines prevented “ships to go to the open sea without hindrance.”
According to the UN's food agency, Ukraine, one of the world's major exporters of corn and wheat, has around 25 million tonnes of grain ready for export but was blocked owing to the Russian stoppage.
Russia has been blocking Ukrainian ports since its invasion on February 24.
Picture Credits: Reuters
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