First ship carrying Ukrainian food products departs from Pivdennyi port since Russian invasion.

On Monday, August 8, the Sacura bulk carrier, loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products, left the Pivdennyi port and is headed for Italy.

This was reported by the Ministry of Infrastructure on Facebook, according to Ukrinform.

“As part of the ‘grain initiative,’ this morning, the first vessel carrying Ukrainian food since February 24, departed from the Pivdennyi port. It’s the Sacura bulker, bound for Italy," the statement reads.

It is noted that the vessel joined the caravan with the Arizona bulk carrier, which departed from the port of Chornomorsk, heading for the Netherlands. A total of 60,000 tonnes of agricultural products are on board both ships.

Read also: 20 more grain ships ready to leave Odesa - ambassador

According to the Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine, Oleksandr Kubrakov, all ports of Great Odesa are currently being used for the export of Ukrainian agricultural products.

The further goal is to increase transshipment in the relevant seaports.

"Within two weeks, we plan to reach a transshipment volume of three to five vessels per day. We are working with the guarantors of the agreements to ensure that the ‘grain corridor’ works without interruption and that all safety requirements for shipping are met," Kubrakov said.

As reported, on August 1, for the first time since the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine, a ship carrying more than 26,000 tonnes of corn left the Odesa port.

This became possible after the Initiative on safe transportation of grain and food products from Ukrainian ports Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdennyi was signed in Istanbul on August 22. As part of the agreements, eight ships loaded with Ukrainian agricultural products have already left the ports, not including those that departed on August 8.