Ukraine said on Thursday it attacked two Russian patrol ships and destroyed a sophisticated air defence system in the west of occupied Crimea, ramping up its strikes to challenge Moscow’s dominance in the Black Sea region.
The attacks come a day after Kyiv said it seriously damaged a Russian submarine and landing ship undergoing repairs in a missile strike on a shipyard in the Crimean port of Sevastopol, home to the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
The incident comes after Russia warned last month that it could no longer guarantee the safety of any vessels in the Black Sea after it withdrew from a deal to allow the safe export of grain.
A Russian warship has fired “warning shots” at a cargo ship in the Black Sea after it failed to respond to demands to stop, Moscow has said.
Russia said crew members on one of its patrol ships opened fire with automatic weapons after the vessel – which it claimed was heading to the Ukrainian port of Izmail – ignored a request to halt for an inspection on Sunday.
It comes after Moscow warned last month that it could not guarantee the safety of civilian vessels in the Black Sea after it pulled out of a UN-backed international deal to allow the safe export of grain from Ukraine.
International shipping data showed the cargo ship had been in the south-western region of the Black Sea, near the coast of Bulgaria, and appeared to suggest it was heading towards the Romanian port Sulina, which is close to the border with Ukraine.
The Russian defence ministry said its military then boarded the ship with the help of a Ka-29 helicopter.
It added: “After the inspection group completed its work on board, the Sukru Okan continued on its way to the port of Izmail.”
A spokesperson for the Turkish defence ministry said it was aware of an incident involving a ship heading for Romania, and confirmed officials were looking into it.
There has been no immediate comment from Ukraine or the ship’s owners.
Source: https://news.sky.com/story/russian-warship-fires-warning-shots-at-cargo-ship-in-black-sea-12939308
