Five more ships are on their way to Ukrainian sea ports using a new corridor opened to resume predominantly agricultural exports, an alternative arrangement to the Black Sea grain deal blocked by Russia, a top Ukrainian official said on Sunday.

"Five new vessels are waiting to be loaded in Ukrainian ports," Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Kubrakov said on the X social media platform, adding the carriers are going to export almost 120,000 (metric) tons of Ukrainian grain to Africa and Europe.

The confirmation came after three bulk carriers – Azara, Ying Hao 01 and Eneida – left Ukrainian ports earlier on Sunday using the "temporary corridor established by the Ukrainian Navy" and carrying 127,000 tonnes of agricultural products and iron ore.