Yesterday’s caravan of 15 or more grain ships safely reached Bosphorus zone. On Nov 1 at least 3 ships left Ukrainian ports, including 2 ships operated by UAE-based companies, and 1 Turkish ship. it seems highly likely, that all the ships presently docked at Ukrainian ports (at least 13 AIS-visible), will be allowed to leave Ukraine and sail to their ports of destination.
More important now is the future of grain corridor. Dozens of ships in ballast are gathered at Istanbul anchorages, awaiting permission to sail to Ukraine. If they start leaving Istanbul bound for Ukraine, it will mean that Russia is bypassed and grain corridor is working.
If no, if they remain stuck at Istanbul or turn away, it will mean that Turkey give in and surrender to Russian demand to close corridor.
The U.N. said three ships carrying 84,490 metric tons of corn, wheat and sunflower meal left through a humanitarian sea corridor set up in July. The corridor, brokered by Turkey and U.N., was seen as a breakthrough that would ensure Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia would receive grain and other food from the Black Sea region during Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Russia cited allegations of a Ukrainian drone attack against its Black Sea fleet in announcing over the weekend that it was suspending its part of the grain deal. The Russian Defense Ministry said Monday that ship traffic from ports in southern Ukraine was halted, calling the movement “unacceptable.”
But a total of 14 ships sailed that day, including one chartered by the U.N. World Food Program to bring wheat to Ethiopia, which along with neighboring Somalia and Kenya, is badly affected by the worst drought in decades.
Sink grain ships !!
By the way, Russian military experts, recently, already came up with the idea of attacking and sinking grain ships in Ukrainian ports, if they dare to call ports notwithstanding Russian embargo. Russian politicians, experts and military say they can’t be responsible for grain ships protection and safety any longer, until Russia gets guarantee its’ Navy (! – what Navy is this, begging for its’ war-time safety?) won’t be attacked. If no guarantees given to Russian Navy, they plan to strike and sink grain ships in Ukrainian ports. Either we protect you, or we kill you, your choice, they say.
