Turkish National Defense Ministry says the shipment of grain from Ukrainian ports continues safely as planned and so far, at least 643 grain-loaded ships left Ukrainian ports.

The Ministry in a statement said more than 17 million tons of grain has been transported via the Black Sea corridor under the agreement to avert food crisis due to Russia-Ukraine war.

Last July, Türkiye, the UN, Russia, and Ukraine signed an agreement in Istanbul to resume grain exports from three Ukrainian Black Sea ports.