The second Ukraine wheat shipment reaches Turkey: tracking sites

According to maritime traffic monitoring sites, a second shipment of Ukrainian wheat reached Turkey via the Black Sea on Sunday, despite Russian threats to attack boats travelling to or from its neighbour and enemy.

The bulk carrier Aroyat, flying the flag of Palau and carrying 17,600 tonnes of wheat, departed the port city of Chornomorsk for Egypt on Friday.

In response to Russia's withdrawal from a United Nations-backed grain export deal, Ukraine is testing a new maritime route that avoids international waters and follows those controlled by NATO members Bulgaria and Romania.

Sunday at 03:00 GMT, according to the websites Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder, the Aroyat was at the southern exit of the Bosphorus Strait.

The ship was to head towards the Dardanelles Strait in order to reach the Mediterranean.

A first ship carrying 3,000 tonnes of wheat and also flying the flag of Palau departed Chornomorsk on Tuesday and arrived in Istanbul on Thursday without incident.

Russia and Ukraine are two of the world's leading agricultural powers whose production is essential to global food security.

The invasion of Moscow's neighbour in February of last year, followed by international sanctions, has destabilised global markets and supplies.

The objective of Ukrainian forces has been to undermine Moscow's military control of the Black Sea, including by launching attacks on Russia-annexed Crimea.

Sevastopol, the home of Russia's Black Sea fleet, has been the target of increasingly frequent drone and missile attacks, with Kyiv claiming to have damaged a number of Russian warships.