Even after Russia suspended the international grain agreement, several freighters set off off the Ukrainian Black Sea coast on Monday.

This was shown by the ship tracking services vesselfinder.com and marinetraffic.com. These included the freighter African Robin, which was loaded with wheat, according to the United Nations, the freighter SK Friendship, which was loaded with soybeans, and the Sealock, which was loaded with peas.

According to the United Nations, these ships along with three other freighters set out from Ukrainian waters on Sunday in the direction of the Black Sea corridor protected by the agreement. The Ukrainian Ministry of Infrastructure also named a ship called "Ikaria Angel" that sails on behalf of the UN World Food Program. The cargo of 40,000 tons of grain is destined for Ethiopia.

Freighters are first piloted into international waters

Based on the previous agreements, the freighters will initially be piloted into international waters by Ukrainian ships. Then they continue into a corridor that all sides agreed on in July. On Saturday, however, Russia canceled the agreement mediated by Turkey and the UN. This was justified with Ukrainian drone attacks.

The deal had ended months of blockades on Ukraine's grain exports as a result of Russia's war of aggression. It was originally due to expire on November 19 - but would have been automatically extended had neither side objected. Moscow has repeatedly criticized the fact that Western sanctions are slowing down its own grain and fertilizer exports.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Monday his country will continue efforts on grain exports. Also on Monday, according to a plan by the delegations from the UN, Ukraine and Turkey, 16 more ships should make their way through the corridor. Russia had been informed, it said.