Referring to the continued launch of grain shipments from Ukraine, which gives hope for alleviating the world food crisis and reducing prices, as the war enters its sixth month,

the Ministry of Infrastructure in Kyiv reported on Telegram that "the second convoy loaded with Ukrainian resources has just left.. three ships from Chornomorsk and one from Odessa ".

The four vessels were "Mustafa Ngati", "Star Helena", "Glory" and "Riva Wind", carrying on board "approximately 170 thousand tons of cargo related to agriculture".

In Rome, Pope Francis welcomed the resumption of grain exports, stating that the order gives a "glimmer of hope" that dialogue is possible to end the war.

"Therefore, this event can be seen as a glimmer of hope, I sincerely hope that based on this path we can put an end to the fighting and achieve a just and lasting peace."

While Saturday's Joint Coordination Centre in Istanbul, which monitors shipments under a United Nations-supported agreement, indicated that five grain-loaded vessels would leave Ukraine Sunday, Kiev announced only four shipments.

A cargo ship arrived in Chornomorsk on Saturday to be loaded with cereals for the first time since the Russian invasion.

Last Monday, the Sierra Leone-flagged "Razzoni" sailed from the Ukrainian port of Odessa with 26 1,000 tons of maize on board, the first to leave on the basis of an agreement reached under Turkish auspices.

Friday, Kiev announced that three other grain-loaded vessels had also left for Turkey and the Irish and British markets, while 13 more were waiting to sail.