Ukraine has found a new shipping route that allows it to revive grain exports and bypass Russia's de facto blockade of its Black Sea ports. Russia's repeated airstrikes on Ukraine's port of Odesa and its withdrawal from a grain export deal forced Ukraine to seek an alternative route. Last week, two cargo vessels loaded with wheat successfully used the new route without incident. Three more cargo vessels have entered Ukrainian waters in recent days.

Since Russia withdrew from the Black Sea Grain Initiative, it has considered any vessel approaching a Ukrainian port as a potential threat. As a result, Ukraine's shipping has been limited to smaller ports and vessels. However, with the new sea route, Ukraine can export its agricultural products and iron ore to China, Egypt, and Spain. Ukraine's agricultural sector is vital to its economy, and it's a major exporter of wheat and other food crops. Although Russia has not impeded the progress of commercial vessels along the new route so far, tensions on the Black Sea have been escalating, with Ukraine launching attacks on Russia's Black Sea Fleet.