ISTANBUL: A second shipment of Ukrainian wheat arrived in Turkey via the Black Sea on Sunday, according to a maritime traffic monitoring site, despite Russian threats to attack boats going to or from its neighbor and enemy.

The Palau-flagged bulk carrier Aroyat, loaded with 17,600 tons of wheat, left the port city of Chornomorsk for Egypt on Friday.

Ukraine is testing a new sea route that avoids using international waters and follows those controlled by Nato members Bulgaria and Romania, following Russia’s withdrawal from a UN-backed grain export deal.

According to the Marine Traffic and Vessel Finder websites, the Aroyat was at the southern exit of the Bosphorus at 3:00 GMT on Sunday.

It was destined for the Dardanelles strait to reach the Mediterranean.

The first ship, loaded with 3,000 tons of wheat, which also sailed under the flag of Palau, left Chornomorsk without incident on Tuesday and arrived in Istanbul on Thursday.

Russia and Ukraine are two major agricultural powers whose supplies are crucial to global food security.

Moscow’s invasion of its neighbor last February – and subsequent international sanctions – destabilized global supplies and markets.

Ukrainian forces have sought to undermine Moscow’s military control of the Black Sea, including attacks on Russia’s annexed Crimea.

Sevastopol, home to Russia’s Black Sea fleet, has been the target of increasing drone and missile attacks, with Kiev claiming damage to several Russian warships.