The Turkish Defense Ministry confirmed that two vessels loaded with agricultural products left the Ukrainian port of Chernomorsk on Saturday morning, bringing the total number of ships that left Ukrainian ports under the United Nations-brokered grain export deal to 27.

In a statement, the Ministry indicated that the Zumrut Ana ship is carrying 6,300 tonnes of sunflower oil to Venice, while the Ocean bulk carrier with 25,000 tonnes of wheat is bound for the port of Marmara near Istanbul.

The departure of the two vessels was earlier authorized by the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul.

According to the Turkish Defense Ministry, the JCC will inspect two other vessels coming from Ukraine and going to Ukraine later on Saturday in the north of Istanbul.

Earlier, the Ukrainian Sea Ports Authority reported that ports began loading food shipments on board seven ships to deliver 66,500 tonnes of wheat, corn, and sunflower oil to consumers.

It is noteworthy that a maritime humanitarian corridor controlled by JCC inspectors is being used for agricultural exports from Ukraine.

On July 22, Russia and Ukraine signed the United Nations-brokered Black Sea Initiative on grain and fertilizer exports.

Grain and fertilizer would be exported from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports of Odessa, Chornomorsk, and Yuzhny under the agreement, and cargo carriers would be guided into international waters by Ukrainian vessels to avoid mined areas. Then the vessels would proceed toward the Bosphorus Strait along an established corridor.

The parties also established the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) in Istanbul on July 27, which includes representatives from Russia, Ukraine, Turkey, and the United Nations. The JCC monitors the implementation of the Black Sea Initiative and inspects cargo ships to ensure that no unauthorized goods or personnel are aboard.

The agreement is valid for 120 days and can be automatically extended without the need for further negotiations.

Read more: JCC authorized 12 ships to depart Ukraine: Official