The spokeswoman of the Southern Command, Natalija Humeňuková, emphasized on television that the Russian action is not confirmed by other sources: “I am convinced that it is necessary to draw attention to it and that it is necessary to keep in mind the peculiarities of hybrid warfare.”
She also stated the reason why Russia could claim to have cracked down so hard: “It could be a signal to all civilian vessels in the Black Sea.” So it would be an effort to discourage shipowners from sending their ships to Ukrainian ports, including river ports (such as Izmail ), to which the blockade does not apply.
The Russian statement that the ship was stopped by gunfire and a Ka-29 helicopter was deployed to transport the inspection team on board was disputed by the Ukrainian channel InfromNapalm. Citing the sailors’ statements, he said the Russians were lying: “There was no helicopter or warning shots. They were just a threat from the Russians on the radio.” InformNapalm also published part of the recording of the Russian broadcast, but whose authenticity could not be verified. It reads: “Sukru Okan, Sukru Okan, I am a Russian warship. Stop the engine immediately and let my inspection party in. Sukru Okan, Sukru Okan, if you don’t stop, we will use weapons in your direction of travel.’
According to InfromNapal, the ship flying the flag of the Pacific island of Palau had a Turkish crew and its captain did not stop but changed course to Turkish shores.
Russia, on the other hand, published a video that is supposed to capture the inspection on board the ship. “After the inspection group finished its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued its voyage to Izmail,” the Russian Defense Ministry said on Sunday.
Sukru Okan by Marine Traffic serversc sailed from the Greek port of Chalkidiki along the Bulgarian and Romanian coasts to the Romanian port of Sulina on the Black Sea coast in the area of the wide Danube Delta. Sulina lies on the route to Izmail.
Due to the sensitivity of the whole matter, the incident is accompanied by a number of uncertainties. Both countries are also fighting in the information space. Mykhailo Podoljak, an adviser to the Ukrainian president, described the action as a “clear violation of international maritime law.”
If the Russians were to interfere, they would probably try to stop the ship in international waters, it was sailing in the exclusive economic zone of Bulgaria and Romania.
The Russians stopped a cargo ship in the Black Sea by shooting
2023-08-14 07:52:46
#shot #claim #sailors #ship #Black #Sea #Novinky
