I appeal to all competent international institutions, to the United Nations, to the International Organization FAO (the food and Agriculture Organization), which fights hunger in the world, to church institutions: do not allow the closure of the bread sea corridor of life, which helps to unblock Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, and can serve those who most need help.
This appeal was made by Patriarch Sviatoslav, reports the Information Department of the UGCC.
The grain agreement, according to which Ukrainian grain is supplied to various countries of the world, is now under threat, and at the end of November, due to Russia's destructive actions, it may stop altogether.
"Odesa and the Odesa region," said the Primate of the UGCC," are the sea gates of Ukraine. And today, these gates want to serve to prevent all the dangers of human hunger in the world. Ukraine has bread, which was generously born this year, and wants to share it with those in need. We saw [during a recent pastoral visit to Odesa and Mykolaiv — ed.] how lines of trucks filled with grain are waiting in line at Odessa seaports to ship Ukrainian bread and take it out to those in need around the world. But, unfortunately, the grain agreement, which opened up this sea route of life so that Ukrainian bread could come through the Black Sea to those who really need it, is under threat."
"When this agreement was concluded, about 15 vessels left the ports of Odesa every day. Today, there are 4 vessels coming out, as competent representatives of the Odesa authorities tell us. Yesterday [October 21 — ed.], the President of Ukraine announced that the passage of ships through this road of life is delayed. This delay is caused by Russia. Now more than 150 vessels are waiting for the opportunity to export and ship Ukrainian grain. But the worst thing is that this agreement may end at the end of November due to Russia's destructive movements," the head of the UGCC stated.