Two ships leave Ukrainian ports after Russia grain deal suspension

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
31 Oct 2022 10:46

12 ships are bound to follow and leave ports on Monday according to the JCC.

The Admiral de Ribas ship (marinetraffic.com)

According to a report by a marine traffic website, two cargo ships carrying grain and other agricultural products left Ukrainian ports on Monday, a few days after Russia suspended its participation in the grain deal.

Alongside the ships named Admiral de Ribas and Mount Baker, the Joint Coordination Center (JCC) responsible for overseeing the implementation of the grain deal confirmed that 12 ships are bound to follow and leave ports on Monday.

A total of 218 ships that were supposed to sail through the safe corridor under the UN-brokered grain deal remain stuck following Ukraine's attack on the Russian Black Sea Fleet using western drones.

The UN-brokered deal, signed by Turkey, Russia, and Ukraine on July 22, was set to expire on November 19. It established a humanitarian maritime corridor for ships transporting food and fertilizer from the Ukrainian Black Sea ports.

Civilian cargo ships cannot be military targets, food must be delivered

United Nations Coordinator for the Black Sea Grain Initiative Amir Abdulla tweeted on Monday that food deliveries must be carried out since civilian cargo ships cannot be held hostage or attacked.

"Civilian cargo ships can never be a military target or held hostage. The food must flow," the UN coordinator tweeted.

Civilian cargo ships can never be a military target or held hostage. The food must flow. #BlackSeaGrainInitiative pic.twitter.com/sqnIVMmyny
— Amir M. Abdulla (@AmirMAbdulla) October 31, 2022

Customary international law protects food assistance and aid from being military targets under the Additional Protocol I of the Geneva Convention - which Ukrainian forces violated in their latest drone attack on vessels of the Russian Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol.

Ukraine's maritime grain exports were halted Sunday after Russia suspended its participation in a landmark agreement that allowed the vital shipments, blaming drone attacks on its fleet in the Black Sea. Sevastopol in Russian Crimea has been a frequent target and is the headquarters for the Black Sea fleet and a logistical hub for operations in Ukraine.