The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine is concerned about the actions of the Russian Federation, which led to a delay in the operation of the Black Sea Grain Corridor.

Starting from October 14, 2022, Russian inspectors of the Joint Coordination Center in Istanbul will significantly delay the inspection of vessels heading to the ports of Ukraine to load grain or are already loaded and heading to their final destination. As a result of the actions of the Russian Federation, more than 165 ships are currently stuck in a queue near the Bosphorus, and their number is increasing daily.

We have reason to believe that Russia's delays in inspecting vessels of the grain initiative are politically motivated. Recently, the Russian leadership tried without legal grounds to question the activity of the grain corridor, demanding new concessions for Moscow's agreement to extend the grain agreement.

Russia's actions undermine global food security, particularly in the Global South region. Inspection delays prevented Ukraine from exporting an additional 3 million tons of grain. 10 million people in the world did not receive food on time because of Russia's political ambitions.

We call on the international community, particularly the African and Asian countries that rely on grain exports from Ukraine, to demand that Russia immediately end these artificial delays in inspecting grain corridor vessels. We must not allow the Kremlin to hold millions of people hostage to its hunger games.

Ukraine also appealed to the Secretariat of the Joint Coordination Center with a request to urgently resolve the issue of delays on the part of Russia, in particular by increasing the number of inspectors in the Bosphorus Strait.

We aim to continue close cooperation with the UN and Turkey to ensure the smooth functioning of the Black Sea Grain Corridor.