In a daring move, despite concerns of potential targeting by Russia, a merchant ship named Joseph Schulte has finally departed from the Ukrainian port of Odesa after being trapped since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

This Hong Kong-flagged vessel's departure comes as Kyiv announced a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, following the collapse of a previous deal that allowed Ukraine to export grain.

However, it remains uncertain whether Russia will respect this corridor or not. Recent reports indicate that the ship's departure coincided with Russian air strikes that inflicted damage on grain storage facilities in Reni, a river port located 260 km southwest of Odesa.

The Ukrainian authorities have released photos depicting the destruction of storage facilities and scattered grain and sunflowers in Reni, which is situated on Ukraine's border with Moldova and Romania. Despite these attacks, the port is said to be continuing its operations, as an industry source revealed to Reuters.

Last month, Russia withdrew from a deal that guaranteed safe passage for exports across the Black Sea. Additionally, they issued a warning that any vessel heading towards Ukrainian ports could be considered as a military target. Earlier this week, warning shots were fired at a ship traveling towards Ukraine, further escalating tensions in the region.

Ukraine, being a major grain and oilseeds exporter, has been greatly impacted by the blockade, leading to the global rise in food prices. Nevertheless, Ukraine took a bold step last week by announcing a humanitarian corridor in the Black Sea, allowing ships to leave its ports.

They promised full transparency to ensure that the ships had no military purpose. The Deputy Prime Minister, Oleksandr Kubrakov, stated on Facebook that a vessel had already utilized this temporary corridor for merchant ships traveling to and from the ports of Great Odesa.

The Joseph Schulte, jointly owned by Bernhard Schulte Shipmanagement and a Chinese bank, is confirmed to be traveling to Istanbul, Turkey, carrying over 30,000 tonnes of cargo, including food, in 2,114 containers. In other developments, Ukrainian officials have announced the successful recapture of Urozhaine, a small hamlet in the Donetsk region, from Russian forces.

This victory comes as part of a significant counter-offensive launched by Ukrainian forces to reclaim territories from occupying Russian forces in recent months. Despite receiving military support from Western nations, Ukraine has only seen modest progress. Ukrainian forces are currently facing powerful resistance in the south as they continue their fight.

As the conflict intensifies in Eastern Ukraine, the humanitarian situation worsens, leading to the evacuation of many residents. Vira Vunesku, a 53-year-old resident from the frontline town of Kupiansk in the Kharkiv Region, expressed the urgency to evacuate her ill grandson as she prepares to leave.

She stated that her condition is serious and that she had been in a hospital in Kharkiv but returned home temporarily before needing to leave again. Separately, Russia reported the downing of three drones near Moscow by their air defense systems overnight. This marks the latest in a series of attacks that have targeted Russian cities.

As tensions continue to rise between Ukraine and Russia, the international community closely watches the unfolding events, hoping for a peaceful resolution to the conflict.