Bad weather in Black Sea slows down first Ukrainian grain shipment

A journalist watches as the bulk carrier Razoni starts its way from the port in Odesa, Ukraine (AP)

The first cargo ship to leave Ukraine since Russia invaded its neighbour more than five months ago has run into bad weather in the Black Sea and is set to arrive later than scheduled in Istanbul, a Turkish official has said.

The Sierra Leone-flagged Razoni, which set sail from the Ukrainian port of Odesa on Monday, is now expected to reach Istanbul early on Wednesday, according to Rear Admiral Ozcan Altunbulak, a coordinator at the joint centre established to oversee the grain shipments.