Risks and mined waters slow rush to extract grain from Ukraine

The goal over the next four months is to get some 20 million tons of grain out of three Ukrainian sea ports blocked since Russia’s February 24 invasion

Grain fields backdropped by a power plant in Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine (Nariman El-Mofty/AP)

Shipping companies are not rushing to export millions of tons of trapped grain out of Ukraine, despite a breakthrough deal to provide safe corridors through the Black Sea.

This is because explosive mines are drifting in the waters, ship owners are assessing the risks and many still have questions over how the deal will unfold.