The first ship carrying Ukrainian grain has left the port of Odesa under an internationally brokered deal to restart agricultural exports from Ukraine via the Black Sea.

Turkey's defense ministry said the vessel departed the port on Monday for Lebanon with a cargo of corn. It said the ship will anchor off Istanbul on Tuesday to undergo inspections.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov described the ship's departure as a very positive development. He said Russia hopes all parties will comply with agreements on Ukrainian grain exports.

Whether grain shipments out of Ukraine will continue smoothly is uncertain, as Russia intensifies attacks in southern Ukraine.

Russia's defense ministry said on Monday that a US-made Harpoon anti-ship missile launcher was destroyed in an attack on a village near Odesa.