The Navy stated the conditions under which Ukraine can expand the shipping corridor to the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson

The port on the territory of Mykolaiv, October 2020, archival photo of NikVesti

Expanding the Ukrainian shipping corridor to the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson can be helped by the expected F-16 fighters, which will provide its full protection.

This was said by the Commander of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksii Neizhpapa, in an interview with the Reuters agency.

The vice admiral said that the delivery of American-made F-16 fighter jets, which is expected to take place in the near future, will be an incentive that will make it possible to challenge the «complete domination» of the Russian Federation in the skies over the Black Sea.

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«F-16s with the right weapons will be able to push back Russian warplanes. The northwestern part of the Black Sea, especially the corridor for civilian ships, will be almost 100% protected,» said Oleksii Neizhpapa.

Currently, the shipping corridor covers only sea transportation from the three main Odesa ports. Including the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson in it is not yet possible, since Russia still has control over the Kinburn Spit, which is located along this route, he added.

According to the commander, in some areas, civilian vessels are accompanied by patrol boats that help provide protection against mines, and air defense equipment provides cover for both ports and corridors.

At the same time, Oleksii Neizhpapa added that currently Russian warships do not enter the northwestern part of the Black Sea in an area of almost 25,000 square meters.

Nikolaev ports and war

Currently, the sea ports of the Mykolaiv region are 90% ready for grain export, but without the consent of the Russians, the «grain corridor» will not be able to function, the head of the Mykolaiv RMA Vitalii Kim said. After all, Russia continues to shell Ochakiv daily from the territory of the Kinburn Spit, as it is trying to disrupt the inclusion of Mykolaiv ports in the «grain agreement», the Southern Defense Forces reported.

Back in the summer of 2023, the President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the international community to expand the «grain corridor» to Mykolaiv ports. At the same time, the head of Mykolaiv Oblast Vitaly Kim reported that the sea ports of Mykolaiv region are 90% ready for grain export, but without the consent of the Russians, the grain corridor will not be able to function.

As you know, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said that Russia will not prevent the departure of Turkish ships from Mykolaiv Seaport and «Olvia». 29 ships are preparing to leave Mykolaiv ports.

In November 2022, the Ukrainian side officially appealed to the partners of the initiative for the safe transportation of agricultural products across the Black Sea with a proposal to extend the initiative for at least 1 year and to join the Mykolaiv port to it.

And in July 2023, the Kremlin announced the suspension of the «grain agreement» brokered by the UN and Turkey last July, which made it possible to unblock three Ukrainian ports for food exports. From that time, Russia began to inflict massive strikes on the port and grain infrastructure of Ukraine, attacking Odesa, Mykolaiv and other port cities.

At the same time, the indicators of the August export of grain from Ukraine in 2023 were at the level of the pre-war indicators of the export of grain by the Mykolaiv Sea Trade Port. For example, during 2021, the port exported about 12 million tons of grain.

Military expert, reserve colonel of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Roman Svitan, said that anti-aircraft missile complexes should be deployed along the coast from Mykolaiv to Reni to protect shipping from Russian invaders in the Black Sea.