A new agreement will take effect from August 10 and will remain in place until the end of 2026. Kuretsky remarked, “This is another practical solution for Ukrainian exporters in light of Russian terror in the Black Sea.”
Additionally, starting August 17, the rail route from Kyiv to Chișinău will be revamped as part of the agreement, making transfers to Chișinău airport more convenient and significantly faster, Kuretsky indicated.
Background
- Russia has intensified attacks on commercial vessels and port infrastructure in Ukraine, with particularly aggressive strikes reported in July 2026, according to the Ukrainian Sea Ports Administration.
- Consequently, Ukraine has faced challenges in grain exports, with shipowners hesitant to send vessels to Ukrainian Black Sea ports due to fears of attacks, and some traders have halted purchases in Odesa.
- Andriy Sybyga, the acting Foreign Minister of Ukraine, commented on the strike against Golden Leo, suggesting that an international monitoring mission may begin in Ukrainian ports this fall to document every act of maritime terror by Russia and pave the way for accountability.
