First shipment of Ukraine grain set to to leave Odessa: Turkey

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The Turkish Defense Ministry announced that the first cargo of Ukrainian grain will depart the port of Odessa at 0530 GMT on Monday.

"The departure of the cargo ship Razoni flying the flag of Sierra Leone and loaded with maize will leave the port of Odessa bound for Lebanon at 08:30 (0530 GMT)," the Ministry said in a statement.

Other convoys would follow, observing the maritime corridor and the procedures agreed upon with Russia on July 22, according to the government. According to the Marine Traffic website, the Razoni was still docked in Odessa at 0500 GMT.  

The vessel, which was built in 1996 and is 186 meters (610 feet) in length and 25 meters in breadth, has a capacity of 30,000 tons.

On July 22, Ukraine and Russia signed a historic agreement with Turkey and the UN to alleviate a worldwide food crisis caused by stalled Black Sea grain deliveries.

Ukraine claim of stealing wheat to send it to Lebanon, Syria refuted

Earlier, an official at a Turkey-based grains trading company denied Ukrainian claims that the cargo of barley and flour aboard a ship that docked at a Lebanon port was stolen from Ukraine, contending that the source was Russia.

The official, who works for Loyal Agro Co LTD, told Reuters that the company had sought to bring 5,000 tons of flour to Lebanon to sell to private customers, and not to the Lebanese government. 

Lebanese government officials were inaccessible for comment. 

Read next: Lebanon approves $150 million World Bank wheat loan

This comes after an announcement to send 49,000 tons of wheat to Lebanon by the end of the week, according to Economy Minister Amin Salam.

The Minister said that this supply would assist with eliminating the grain deficit which the country has been suffering from for months.

Ukrainian grain deal in Istanbul

Last Wednesday, Turkey formally launched a unique joint coordination center in Istanbul to manage exports, which is staffed by civilian and military officials from both warring groups, as well as diplomats from Turkey and the UN.

Their primary job is to secure the safe passage of Ukrainian grain ships over established routes, as well as to supervise their investigation for forbidden weaponry while they transit the Black Sea.

Due to disruptions in supply from two of the world's top grain exporters, prices have risen, making food imports prohibitively expensive for some of the world's poorest countries.

According to UN estimates, as a direct result of the war, approximately 50 million people worldwide endured "acute hunger". Wheat prices fell immediately after the grain pact was struck.

Update:

The first shipment of Ukrainian grain left the port of Odessa on Monday under a deal aimed at relieving a global food crisis following the war in Ukraine, the Turkish Defense Ministry said. 

"The ship Razoni has left the port of Odessa bound for Tripoli in Lebanon. It is expected in Istanbul on August 2. It will then continue its journey after it has been inspected in Istanbul," the Ministry said.