A ship loaded with grain is set to leave the Ukrainian port of Odesa for the first time since the war began, according to the Turkish defence ministry.

It comes after Russia and Ukraine signed a deal in July to reopen Black Sea ports to resume grain exports – shipments needed to alleviate a growing global food crisis.

The Sierra Leone-flagged dry cargo ship RAZONI is loaded with corn and will depart from the port of Odesa at 8.30am (6.30am UK time) on Monday to go to Lebanon, the Turkish defence ministry said.

Russia and Ukraine signed separate agreements with Turkey and the UN clearing the way for Ukraine – one of the world’s key breadbaskets – to export 22 million tons of grain and other agricultural goods that have been stuck in Black Sea ports because of the conflict.

Other ships are expected to depart Ukraine’s ports through safe corridors in line with deals signed in Istanbul.

The agreement aims to allow for the safe passage of grain shipments in and out of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and the port of Pivdennyi.

Related posts:

Greek authorities offer £257k reward to catch killers who strangled British mother Fair dinkum – to be sure: Woman’s Australian accent goes Irish after tonsil operation Britons scramble to leave Portugal as UK flights doubled on last day before new quarantine rules come into force UK urged to boycott Beijing Olympics over Uighur Muslim ‘persecution’ Drought in East Africa puts millions at risk of severe hunger Russian billionaire’s £443m superyacht seized in Italy as part of global oligarch crackdown Protests after mayor of occupied Ukrainian city is ‘kidnapped’ by Russian forces Meet the people doing anything and everything they can for Ukraine’s victims Australian offshore processing designed ‘to dehumanise’, says artist who spent eight years in detention World’s largest recorded freshwater fish caught in Cambodia Israeli government collapses – raising possibility of Netanyahu returning to power Last surviving Battle of Britain pilot, 103, reunited with WWII fighter plane