Ukraine delivers 160 thousand tons of agricultural produce as part of World Food Programme
Source: Interfax Ukraine
The Grain from Ukraine initiative has overseen the shipment of 25 vessels from ports in Odesa, carrying 160,000 tons of agricultural produce that helped feed 12 million people, according to Marianne Ward, deputy director of the World Food Programme (WFP).
In an interview with Interfax Ukraine, Ward revealed that grain shipments from Ukraine, part of the WFP’s efforts, were temporarily halted from July to October 2023, following the expiration of the Black Sea Grain Initiative.
She expressed concern over the attacks destroying Odesa’s port infrastructure as the WFP’s wants Ukraine’s grains to reach the countries in need. This commitment is underscored by the WFP’s provision of marine war insurance for ships carrying Ukraine’s grains.
Ukraine is preparing to dispatch an additional 40,000 tons of agricultural produce to countries in Africa and Asia in the coming months.
After the start of the full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine witnessed an unprecedented wave of private support for the army. Citizens, big businesses, charitable foundations, and international philanthropists began financing the country’s defense alongside state assistance provided by international partners. Estimates of total private contributions range from tens to hundreds of billions of hryvnias. However, determining the exact amount remains difficult. In many cases, companies combine military aid, humanitarian programs, tax payments, social spending, and employee support in their reporting.
Rinat Akhmetov’s military initiative, “Steel Front”, has delivered a batch of drones worth UAH 214 million to the 1st “Azov” Corps of the National Guard of Ukraine. This shipment is part of the Metinvest Group’s ongoing support for the unit in 2025.
On October 6, the Administrative Cassation Court within the Supreme Court of Ukraine continued hearing case No. 990/80/25, in which the fifth President and leader of the party “European Solidarity”, Petro Poroshenko, seeks to have Presidential Decree No. 81/2025 from February 12, 2025 — enacting sanctions by the decision of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) — declared illegal and annulled. The plaintiff claims the document was falsified and that the sanctions are a tool of political persecution of the opposition, contrary to international norms. Government representatives deny the allegations and insist their actions were lawful. Journalists of Bukvy were present at the hearing.
Rinat Akhmetov’s Metinvest Group has completed the construction of an upgraded underground NATO Role 2 hospital in one of the hottest sectors of the frontline. This is the second stabilization point established under the Steel Front initiative in cooperation with the Medical Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The new facility, funded by Metinvest with an investment of UAH 21 million, is more secure than the first one thanks to its deeper location underground (over 6 meters) and additional fortifications.
Five armored vehicles “Kozak” have received a new mission – thanks to the support of Metinvest, they have been upgraded to full-fledged command and staff vehicles. These upgraded vehicles are now operating on the front line.