The cargo ship POLARNET with 12,000 tons of Ukrainian corn arrived at the port in Türkiye today. The vessel successfully passed the "grain corridor" and was inspected for prohibited cargo in Istanbul.

“Arrival of the first vessel with Ukrainian grain to the Turkish port is a message of hope for every family in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia: Ukraine will not abandon you. We have always been, we are, and we will be a reliable supplier of agricultural products. Unlike Russia, we do not play the "Hunger Games".

Full responsibility for the further functioning of the "grain corridor" rests with Russia. If it holds on to its obligations, Ukrainian food exports will continue to guarantee stability for our Middle Eastern, African, and Asian friends," said Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba.

“It is the first successful example of the implementation of the Black Sea Grain Initiative. It allows us to look optimistically at the prospects of transportation.

I’m grateful to our partners from the UN and Türkiye for effectively guaranteeing the safety of the ship's movement and cooperation at all stages of the implementation of the agreements.

I want to express special gratitude to the crew of the POLARNET vessel for being among the first to use the "grain corridor" thereby opening the way for all other vessels,” Oleksandr Kubrakov, Minister of Infrastructure of Ukraine said.

On July 22, in Istanbul, at the suggestion of the United Nations, Ukraine, Türkiye and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres signed the Initiative on the safe transportation of grain and food products from the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Chornomorsk, and Pivdenny.