It’s the last day of our birthday campaign, and it would mean a lot to us if you become our member today
Become a member
Skip to content
Edit post

International Maritime Organization to send mission to Ukraine

by Nate Ostiller and The Kyiv Independent news desk December 8, 2023 7:32 PM 2 min read
The headquarters of the International Maritime Organization in London, the U.K. (International Maritime Organization/X)
This audio is created with AI assistance

The International Maritime Organization (IMO), along with support from other UN authorities, will send a mission to Ukraine to help "identify Ukraine's needs in implementing the right to free navigation," Infrastructure Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on Dec. 8.

"This decision, as well as the non-election of Russia to the IMO Council for 2023-2024, shows the protection of the international maritime community's right to free navigation of every country," Kubrakov said. He added that the findings of the mission will be incorporated into "a long-term project of technical assistance to Ukraine."

The IMO's Assembly voted on Dec. 1 to elect 40 new council members for 2024-2025. Russia was not re-elected, which President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed.

"In the last decade, no country has done more to undermine freedom of navigation than Russia," Zelensky said.

Immediately after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, it blocked the movement of humanitarian cargo in and out of Ukraine's Black Sea ports.

The Black Sea Grain Initiative, first brokered by Turkey and the UN in July 2022, allowed Ukraine to export its grain even amid the ongoing war.

Moscow unilaterally terminated the deal in July 2023 and subsequently intensified its attacks against Ukraine's ports and agriculture infrastructure.

Since the Black Sea humanitarian corridor opened in August, 200 ships have passed through it, carrying 7 million metric tons of cargo from Ukrainian ports, including almost 5 million tons of Ukrainian agricultural products, Kubrakov said on Dec. 4.

This Week in Ukraine Ep. 37 – What’s behind the crisis at Ukraine-Poland border?
Episode #37 is dedicated to the trucker protests that have been blockading several border crossings at Ukraine-Poland border for over a month.
It’s the last day of our birthday campaign.
It would mean a lot to us if you become our member today. With your support, we can do even more good journalism.
Show us support this birthday month
Become a member
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.