Pro-Russian authorities announced on Thursday that a first merchant ship had left the commercial port of Berdyansk.
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A beginning of unblocking of the Black Sea. Authorities installed by the Russian military in southern Ukraine announced on Thursday 30 June the departure of a first merchant ship from the commercial port of Berdiansk. “After several months of stoppage (…), 7,000 tonnes of cereals are leaving for friendly countries”, the head of the pro-Russian administration in the region, Yevgeny Balitsky, said on Telegram.
This is a first, as thousands of tonnes of grain have been blocked in Ukrainian ports since the start of the conflict, leading to a global rise in food prices. In addition, Ukraine has been accusing Russia for weeks of stealing its wheat crops in the regions occupied by the army in the south of the country.
The final destination of the shipment was not specified. “The safety of the cargo ship is provided by the buildings and launches of the maritime military base of the Black Sea Fleet in Novorossiysk”, added the pro-Russian leader.
Berdiansk, a port on the Sea of Azov, was conquered by the Russian army at the start of the Russian offensive launched on February 24. It is located in the region of Zaporijjia, in southern Ukraine, largely occupied by Russia, as is the neighboring region of Kherson.
Pro-Russian authorities in the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions have also announced that they have “nationalized” all the infrastructure and goods belonging to the Ukrainian state and having bought their crops from the farmers of the region. As a reminder, Moscow has set up authorities in these regions called “military and civil administrations” who organize the Russification of these areas.