Grain shipments will resume this week from Ukraine’s Black Sea port of Berdyansk controlled by Russia, after work has been completed to de-mine it, Russia's TASS news agency cited local authorities as saying on Wednesday.

Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said earlier that the seaports of Mariupol and Berdyansk are operating normally and are ready to ship grain.

Ukraine is one of the world's biggest exporters of grain, and Western countries have accused Russia of blocking maritime trade by shutting Ukraine's Black Sea ports. It is estimated that more than 20 million tonnes of grain are stuck in Ukraine's silos due to a Russian blockade.

Moscow blames Western sanctions for the growing global food crisis.