Another four cargo ships with some 170,000 tons of grain set sail this Sunday from the Ukrainian ports of Odessa and Chornomorsk, on the Black Sea, according to the authorities. ukrainianthanks to a historic agreement to try alleviate the food crisis global caused by war.
“The second convoy with Ukrainian deliveries has just left the ports of Odessa and Chornomorsk: three ships from Chornomorsk and another from Odessa,” the Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure said on Telegram.
According to the ministry, it is about the four freighters “Mustafa Nekati“, “Star Helen“, “glory” Y “Riva Wind” and they have on board “about 170,000 tons of merchandise”.
For its part, the administration of russian occupation accused this Sunday the Ukrainian army of having once again bombed the Zaporizhia nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine.
Ukraine Y Russia they accuse each other of the attacks on the Zaporizhia plant, the largest nuclear complex in Europe, which has been under Russian control since March.
Early Sunday morning, “the Ukrainian army carried out an attack with a cluster bomb fired from a Hurricane multiple rocket launcher,” said the occupation authorities of the city of Energodar, where the plant is located.
“The fragments and the rocket motor fell 400 meters from a working reactor”, “damaged” administrative buildings and reached “a used nuclear fuel storage area”, said this source, without providing any evidence to support their claims.
The CEO of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Argentine Rafael Grossi, declared on Saturday that the attacks show the risk of a “nuclear disaster.”
“Any military attack directed at or from the facility would be tantamount to playing with fire, with potentially catastrophic consequences,” Grossi said.
The head of European Union diplomacy, Josep Borrell, condemned “a serious and irresponsible violation of nuclear safety standards” and said that these attacks are “a new example of Russia’s disregard for international standards.”
“Sign of Hope”
The resumption of Ukrainian grain exports to help alleviate global food shortages and lower prices, however, offers a small glimmer of hope as the war enters its sixth month.
Ukraine, which is one of the world’s largest grain exporters, has been forced to halt almost all of its exports following the Russian invasion on February 24, sending food prices soaring around the world.
From Rome, Pope Francis welcomed this Sunday with satisfaction the resumption of grain exports as “a sign of hope” that shows that it is possible to dialogue to end the war.
“This step shows that it is possible to dialogue and achieve concrete results that benefit everyone,” the Pontiff told the faithful gathered in Saint Peter’s Square at the end of the traditional Angelus prayer.
The Joint Coordination Center (CCC), which oversees operations from Istanbul, said on Saturday that five cargo ships would leave Ukrainian ports on Sunday, but kyiv only announced four.
On Saturday, a cargo ship arrived empty at the port of Chornomorsk to load grain for the first time since the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Russia and Ukraine sealed an agreement mediated by Turkey and the UN on July 22 that allows the resumption of Ukrainian grain exports and Russian agricultural products despite Western sanctions.
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