War-torn Ukraine is ready to ship out grain for the first time since Russia invaded.
The country is a key global exporter of wheat, barley, corn and sunflower oil – and the conflict has sparked fears of major food shortages.
But Chornomorsk is one of three ports now preparing to ship grain to nations hit hard by the halt on exports.
President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the Black Sea site and said: “The first ship is being loaded since the beginning of the war.”
Days ago, Russian missiles hit the nearby port of Odesa, threatening to scupper the deal brokered by the United Nations and Turkey to let Ukraine start exporting grain.
It came after Kyiv asked the UN and Red Cross to probe the deaths of 53 Ukrainians at the PoW camp of Olenivka in Donetsk. The Red Cross is seeking access to the camp to help evacuate and treat the wounded.
Ukraine and Russia have accused each other of attacking the site after footage showed charred bodies.
Mr Zelensky called it a “deliberate Russian war crime.”
Meanwhile, 104,000 Ukrainian refugees have settled in Britain.
The UK and Ukrainian governments will say in thank-you letters to hosts: “You have saved lives, given hope, offered sanctuary.
"This represents the UK’s largest offer of help to people fleeing war since 1945.”
