Nibulon calls to open Mykolaiv port «without any compromises on sovereignty»

Port in Mykolaiv, October 2020, archive photo NikVesti

The Nibulon company has called on the international community to make the opening of the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson a key condition for any agreements on the safety of navigation in the Black Sea.

The company stressed that before the full-scale invasion, these ports were important for Ukraine's agricultural exports.

According to them, the blockade of the ports of Mykolaiv and Kherson has paralysed trade in southern Ukraine, blocked more than 100 vessels, halted the economic recovery of the regions and exacerbated the global food crisis.

«We appeal to diplomatic missions, international organisations and partners: The unblocking of Ukrainian ports must take place on the basis of international law, with guarantees of free trade, respect for Ukraine's sovereignty and without any control by the aggressor», the statement said.

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The company calls on diplomats and international organisations to seek the unblocking of ports on the basis of international law. Ukrainian ports should work in the interests of Ukraine and global food security.

Earlier, the head of the regional military administration, Vitalii Kim, said that Mykolaiv ports are ready «even tomorrow» to resume their work.

It should be noted that on 20 January, the French Ambassador to Ukraine, Gael Veyer, and the head of the European Investment Bank's Eastern Europe Regional Centre, Kristina Mikulova, visited Mykolaiv ports. In particular, the companies «Nibulon», «Agrofusion» and «Kernel».

Answering a question from the correspondent of NikVesti, Ambassador Gael Weser said that the ports will allow Mykolaiv to develop and a very powerful leap forward is expected «in the future».

Mykolaiv ports and the war

Mykolaiv region's seaports are currently 90% ready for grain exports, but without Russian consent, the «grain corridor» will not be able to function, said Vitalii Kim, head of the Mykolaiv Regional State Administration. After all, Russia continues to shell Ochakiv daily from the Kinburn Spit, as it tries to disrupt the inclusion of Mykolaiv ports in the «grain deal», the Southern Defence Forces reported.

Back in the summer of 2023, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the international community to expand the «grain corridor» to include Mykolaiv ports. At the same time, Vitalii Kim, the head of the Mykolaiv Sea Port Authority, said that the seaports of Mykolaiv region are 90% ready to export grain, but the grain corridor will not be able to function without the consent of the Russians.

As you know, Turkish President Recep Erdogan said that Russia would not prevent Turkish vessels from leaving Mykolaiv port and «Olvia». There are 29 vessels preparing to leave Mykolaiv ports.

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

And in July 2023, the Kremlin announced the suspension of the «grain deal», brokered by the UN and Turkey last July, which allowed unblocking three Ukrainian ports for food exports. Since then, Russia has launched massive strikes against Ukraine's port and grain infrastructure, attacking Odesa, Mykolaiv and other port cities.

At the same time, Ukraine's August grain exports in 2023 were at the level of pre-war grain exports by the Mykolaiv Commercial Sea Port. For example, in 2021, the port exported about 12 million tonnes of grain.

Roman Svitan, a military expert and colonel in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said that to protect shipping in the Black Sea from Russian occupiers, anti-aircraft missile systems should be deployed along the coast from Mykolaiv to Reni.