During the year of operation of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor, more than 2,300 ships entered the Black Sea ports of Ukraine, and about 44 million tonnes of grain were exported from Ukraine, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

"From the first day of its invasion, Russia has been doing everything to block Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea. Thus, the enemy exerted pressure on the economy of Ukraine, and at the same time exerted pressure on our allies, creating threats to world food security. That is why one of the biggest victories for Ukraine last year was the opening of the Ukrainian Sea Corridor," Shmyhal said at a government meeting on Friday.

According to him, over the year more than 2,300 ships entered the Black Sea ports of Ukraine, cargo turnover amounted to more than 64 million tonnes, and about 44 million tonnes of grain were exported from Ukraine.

"All this has had a positive impact on various sectors of our economy and on the economy as a whole. Ukrainian exporters increased their physical sales volumes by 35% in the first half of 2024. We have reached pre-war export figures," the Prime Minister added.

He stressed that this result was made possible due to three things: the successful actions of the Security and Defense Forces in the Black Sea; a unique initiative to insure war risks for merchant ships; restoration of the Ukrainian port infrastructure and investments in its development.