Now Ukraine Seizes a Russian Tanker in Black Sea Port

Kiev says tanker was used to seal off the Kerch Strait after a shooting incident between the Russian and Ukrainian navies last year

Ukraine’s deep state strike against a Russia thaw?

Ukraine’s security service has seized a Russia-registered oil tanker that allegedly blocked maritime traffic in the Kerch Strait. It comes as both countries discuss the release of Ukrainian sailors detained in the area last year.

The Russian-flagged ship ‘Nika Spirit’ was detained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) and military prosecutors after it moored at the port of Izmail in southwestern Ukraine, according to the agency’s statement. Ukrainian authorities have searched the vessel, seized her logs and communications records, as well as interviewed the crew.

The SBU maintains that the tanker had blocked the passage of Ukrainian Navy ships through the Black Sea’s Kerch Strait in November last year. Citing international maritime codes, the service said that she was allegedly called ‘Neyma’ at the time.

Later in the day, the ship’s owner reported that Nika Spirit’s crew “is safe and heads home,” but the report wasn’t confirmed by the Russian Embassy in Kiev.

It is unclear what will happen to the ship and her crew, although the SBU said it will seek an arrest order for the vessel. But the timing is particularly notable as the detention came amid low-key talks about the release of 24 Ukrainian sailors currently imprisoned in Russia.

On Wednesday, Ukrainian media cited Kiev’s ombudsman, Lyudmila Denisova, who said that an agreement to return the sailors home has finally been reached. Later in the day, she refuted these reports, telling Russia’s RBC newspaper that she only asked the FSB, the Russian security agency in charge of the trial, to release them under a bail scheme, and that talks are in progress.

Or seizing hostages to use as chips in a trade?

All of those detained were manning fast attack crafts ‘Nikopol’ and ‘Berdyansk,’ as well as the tug boat ‘Yany Kapu,’ which tried to sail through the Strait and reach the Sea of Azov. The ships were stopped by the Russian coast guard and their crews were detained over the violation of maritime borders.

Later, Moscow accused Kiev of inflicting a provocation and revealed that the sailors had ignored orders to change course, leaving the coast guard with no choice but to fire warning shots and ram the intruding vessels.

Ukraine, in turn, denied that its ships had violated Russia’s border and insisted their crews’ actions were lawful. The then-president Petro Poroshenko called the seizure of the ships “an act of aggression” and demanded that Moscow immediately release the sailors.

Source: RT

7 Comments
  1. Séamus Ó Néill says

    What is wrong with western “powers” and their subservient vassals, have the all had lobotomies or suffered severe brain damage. They all behave as if their IQ’s are verging towards the minus score. Brain dead and bankrupt America is provoking unwinnable wars all over the planet….death wish or what? Britain, a toothless has been, steals an Iranian tanker , Iran retaliates and Britain goes off the Geiger counter and sends a nuclear submarine to the Gulf…..a bit more petrol on the fire please, and now Ukraine, a despot regime surviving on EU donations….decides to poke the bear…..a foolhardy act it will definitely live to regret …..there’s a long cold winter coming !

  2. Nofearorfavor says

    Ukraine messing with Russia now for its western masters? Not a good idea at all. Matters could sour very fast and Ukraine will rue the day.

  3. Garry Compton says

    Tel Aviv tells the actor what to do this year – Russia needs to get in touch with the Bolsheviks and do some push backs. As in, No gaz in that Jew owned Ukie pipeline until this , this and this is done.

    1. Jim Catanuso says

      U realize Moscow has a very tight relationship with the Jews right? I love how all u guys blame the west and the Jews. Just show how ignorant, uneducated and brainwashed u all really are. If anyone except the US had been the one true power in the past 50 years, we would be 30 years behind where we are now. We aren’t broke. Everyone says that. But somehow we still can spend more on military then most countries complete fiscal spending. How is that? Loans? Sure. Countries just love lending is money they will never see back. RUSSIA is broke, Iran is broke, we here in America are prospering. Even when our economy is bad, it’s still pretty fucking good compared to when other countries economy is good. I can’t wait until MY country says fuck u all. I have no problem with keeping our military home. Building the military into a defensive posture at home and make it quite clear if anyone fucks with us we will just wipe u out. No warning, declaration of war or citizens impact review. We will literally just wipe it out. Citizens and all and claim the territory. We are already looked at like that so fuck it. Let’s be as bad as everyone says. Every country takes care of themselves and if there’s a national disaster, outbreak, u get invaded, genocide, u fucking deal with it. Don’t call us for a fucking thing.

      1. Garry Compton says

        You’re an idiot – go back to Haifa !

  4. Jorge Trevino says

    Ukranian hicupps, shot it’s big brother! That’s something you can’t do, as is Mexico pirating a U.S vessel. Poor guys, they think they are important and powerful

  5. JustPassingThrough says

    yes sir, mr z. is going to make a difference. new POTUE, new parliament, old bosses.

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