Ship departing from Israeli port reportedly breaks Russian grain blockade

A ship registered in Sierra Leone has become the first vessel to break through Moscow's blockade of Ukrainian ports since Russia withdrew from the grain deal in mid-July.

The ship, named Ams1, set sail from Israel's port city of Ashdod and openly declared its destination as it crossed the Black Sea on a direct route, according to a report by Ukrainian news outlet Militarnyi on Monday.

Despite Russia's threats that foreign ships sailing towards Ukrainian ports would be treated as potential carriers of military cargo, Ams1 entered the Ukrainian branch of the Danube Delta undeterred.

Ukrainian media reported that an American aircraft, P8 Poseidon, played a crucial role in providing security to vessels on this route.

The aircraft refuelled in the skies of Romania, and additional security information was provided by the reconnaissance drone Forte12 RQ-4.

Nyní: Námořní blokáda byla prolomena

Izraelská loď nedbá ruských hrozeb a vplouvá do ukrajinského ramene Dunaje.

Na cestu se vydala z izraelského Ašdodu, otevřeně označila jako svůj cíl Ukrajinu a několikrát to zopakovala, po přímce překročila Černé moře.

Ams1 následují… pic.twitter.com/zIw6mmEx5V

— Lazz Lazz (@Lazikkkk) July 31, 2023

The Black Sea grain deal that Russia withdrew from two weeks ago was brokered by the UN and Turkey a year before in an effort to combat a global food crisis worsened by Russia's February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Ukraine and Russia are among the largest grain exporters in the world.

Since Russia quit the deal and began attacking Ukrainian food-exporting ports on the Black Sea and Danube River, global wheat and corn futures have risen sharply.

Last week, Russia shelled Ukraine's port of Reni, situated near the border with Romania - a member of NATO.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure in the Danube region, stating that they pose serious risks to security in the Black Sea.