“Russia’s ambassador to the United Nations, Vasily Nebenzya, said Russia’s navy would, if necessary, conduct inspections of ships that did get its permission to depart Ukraine. The Russian Ministry of Defense said any movement of ships along a previously designated grain corridor was unacceptable, citing security concerns.
The threat came as merchant ships continued to pull in and out of Ukraine’s grain-exporting ports along the Black Sea, just days after Russia suspended its participation in a U.N.-brokered deal to allow Ukrainian grain exports. Twelve ships carrying grain departed from Ukrainian ports on Monday, the country’s infrastructure minister said. Four ships were set to transit toward Ukraine to collect grain.”