Russian Warship Fires Warning Shots at Cargo Ship Heading for Ukrainian Port
In a recent escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine, a Russian warship fired warning shots at a cargo ship heading for the port of Izmail in southern Ukraine. The Russian Defence Ministry confirmed the incident on Sunday, stating that the shots were fired to force the ship to stop for an inspection.
According to the ministry, the captain of the Palau-flagged vessel, named the Sukru Okan, had ignored an order to stop. The ship was suspected of transporting prohibited goods. A helicopter carrying Russian military personnel was then dispatched to inspect the vessel. After the inspection, the ship was allowed to continue its journey to the Ukrainian port.
This incident follows the collapse of a deal that allowed the export of Ukrainian grain. The river port of Izmail, located in the Odessa region, had become one of the main exit routes for Ukrainian agricultural products. However, Moscow terminated the agreement in mid-July, resulting in a bottleneck for Ukrainian grain exports.
In response to the termination of the agreement, Russia warned that any ship traveling to or from Ukrainian ports would be considered a potential target. Ukraine reciprocated by issuing a similar warning to Russian ships. Since then, the number of attacks in the Black Sea has increased on both sides.
The Russian army has conducted strikes on Odessa, a major port in southern Ukraine, as well as the river ports of Izmail and Reni on multiple occasions. These attacks have been denounced by Kiev as an attempt to impede its exports. In retaliation, Ukraine targeted the Russian port of Novorossiysk and several Russian ships in the Black Sea, including an oil tanker.
As tensions continue to rise, Ukraine has begun registering ships willing to use a safe “humanitarian corridor” in the Black Sea. This corridor is intended to allow trapped cargo ships to sail safely. However, it remains uncertain whether Russia will acknowledge or respect this plan.
The situation in the Black Sea remains tense, with both sides engaged in aggressive actions against each other’s vessels. The international community is closely watching the situation, hoping for a de-escalation of tensions between Russia and Ukraine.