Inspection of Ukraine grain ship off Turkey begins

A multi-national inspection team on Wednesday boarded the first cargo ship to leave Ukraine since the Russia military operation, while it was anchored at an inspection area in the Black Sea off the coast of Istanbul.

Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish and U.N. officials will check if the grain shipment is in accordance with a crucial agreement signed last month by Moscow and Kyiv to unblock Ukraine's agricultural exports and ease the global food crisis.

The ship, loaded up with 26,000 tons of corn, set sail from Odesa Monday. Its final destination is Lebanon. More ships from Ukraine are expected to set out in the coming days.