Aug. 13 (UPI) — Russia’s Defense Ministry announced that a cargo ship en route to the Ukrainian port of Izmail was compelled to halt after Russian naval forces in the Black Sea fired warning shots.
The Palau-flagged dry cargo ship named Sukru Okan was intercepted by the patrol ship Vasily Bykov of the Black Sea Fleet for inspection, according to a statement by the ministry published on the official Russian news agency Tass.
The ship’s captain disregarded orders to stop for inspection, which led to warning shots being discharged from automatic small arms, stated the officials.
After establishing radio contact with the captain of the Sukru Okan, a helicopter carrying a Russian inspection team departed from the Vasily Bykov and landed on the cargo ship.
The ministry’s statement confirmed that “after the inspection team completed its work aboard the Sukru Okan, the vessel proceeded towards the port of Izmail,” while the ships of the Black Sea Fleet continue to conduct patrols in the designated areas.
Last month, Russia issued a warning stating that it considers all vessels destined for Ukrainian ports through the Black Sea as possible carriers of military supplies for Kyiv, following President Vladimir Putin’s withdrawal from a United Nations-brokered grain deal. In the aftermath of the withdrawal, Moscow has been targeting Ukrainian grain facilities in Izmail and other locations, jeopardizing the safe export of grain from Ukraine to meet global food demand.
Kyiv accused Russia of committing war crimes earlier this month after the Russian attacks on the Ukrainian grain ports in Izmail, which are located on the River Danube near Romania.
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