First Grain Shipment Leaves Ukraine , After Months of Being Blocked by Russia.<br />NBC News reports that on Aug. 1, a ship carrying grain was finally able to leave the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa. .<br />The development follows a deal made between Kyiv and Moscow last month.<br />The cargo ship will transport 26,000 tons of Ukrainian corn toward Lebanon's port of Tripoli. .<br />In a Facebook post, Oleksandr Kubrakov, Ukraine's infrastructure minister, assured the vessel would be safe as it travels along a route established by the U.N. and Turkey.<br />As 16 more ships wait to depart Odesa, Kubrakov <br />called the first ship's passage "a colossal success <br />for ensuring global food security.".<br />Bridget A. Brink, <br />U.S. ambassador to <br />Ukraine, took to Twitter <br />to announce the development. .<br />Bridget A. Brink, <br />U.S. ambassador to <br />Ukraine, took to Twitter <br />to announce the development. .<br />NBC News reports that Russian forces <br />continue to strike cities across Ukraine <br />as Vladimir Putin's war rages on.<br />NBC News reports that Russian forces <br />continue to strike cities across Ukraine <br />as Vladimir Putin's war rages on
