More cargo ships from Ukraine use a civilian corridor despite Russian threats

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Two cargo vessels have left Ukraine despite Russian threats and are in the Black Sea, maritime officials said Saturday. Ukraine’s infrastructure minister says the Anna-Theresa, a Liberian-flagged bulk carrier carrying 56,000 tons of pig iron, left the Ukrainian port of Yuzhny on Friday. A second vessel, the Ocean Courtesy, left the same port with 172,000 tons of iron ore concentrate. The minister says the vessels sailed through a temporary corridor for civilian ships from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports to the Bosporus. The ships are using the interim corridor established by Ukraine’s government after Russia halted a wartime agreement aimed at ensuring safe grain exports from Ukraine.