A government minister announced on Saturday that Ukraine has shipped approximately 13 million tons of goods on around 400 vessels since establishing a secure maritime corridor in August to protect against Russian aggression.

In 2023, Ukraine did not have many successful military endeavors on land. However, in the Black Sea, they were able to repel Russia’s significantly larger navy from their coasts, resulting in the resumption of grain exports.

The Minister of Infrastructure, Oleksandr Kubrakov, expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s international partners for their efforts in maintaining the corridor during times of military aggression.

In August, a corridor was established to connect Ukraine’s ports to the Bosphorus Straits. This came shortly after Moscow declined to negotiate a new agreement to allow cereal exports through the disputed Black Sea.

The agreement, which is no longer in effect, permitted Ukraine to export approximately 33 million tons of grains and other edible products within a 12-month period.

Due to a dispute among Polish truckers over competition from Ukraine, many land border crossings have been obstructed in recent months. As a result, the sea route has become increasingly vital.

Russia had threatened to target ships arriving and leaving Ukrainian ports and has attacked port and grain storage facilities.

This week, a grain carrier flying the Panamanian flag struck a mine while en route to a port in Ukraine, resulting in injuries to two crew members.

On Saturday, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy saluted his country’s maritime success, claiming that his forces had “reconquered the sea” this year.