First civilian ship goes through Ukraine's new humanitarian corridor – Zelenskyy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that the first civilian ship passed through Ukraine’s new humanitarian corridor on the evening of 16 August and is on its way to the Bosphorus.

Source: President Zelenskyy on Twitter

Quote from Zelenskyy: "Ukraine has just taken an important step towards restoring the freedom of navigation in the Black Sea. The first civilian ship has left the Odesa port and passed through Ukraine’s new humanitarian corridor. It is currently on the way to the Bosphorus."

Details: Zelenskyy said that Ukraine earlier informed the International Maritime Organisation about setting up the new humanitarian corridor. The IMO, in turn, "reiterated Ukraine’s sovereign right to control navigation" and "urged Russia to stop threatening [Ukraine] and to abide by international conventions".

"The sea must be safe for everyone. This is of critical importance to Ukraine and its partners. Freedom and safety of navigation are the basic principles of international relations," Zelenskyy stressed.

Background:

• On 16 August, the first merchant ship within the temporary corridor left the ports of Greater Odesa and headed for the Bosphorus.

• The container ship, which had been in the port of Odesa since 23 February 2022, left the Vorontsov Lighthouse and is heading for the Bosphorus. It is carrying more than 30,000 tonnes of cargo (2,114 containers), including food.

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