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.
File photo of a cargo ship in the Black Sea
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 Sukru Okan vessel, which was flying the flag of Palau – a small island country in the Pacific – did stop following the “warning shots” and there were no reports of any damage or casualties.
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.
UKRAINE has unleashed a sea drone attack today on the key Russian port and naval base Novorossiysk.
Dramatic footage shows a drone burning before exploding in the harbour sparking a massive fireball.
Footage shows the Olenegorskiy Gornyak being towedThe blast sparked a huge fireball in the key portCredit: East2WestThe targeted warship is said to have sustained significant damageCredit: East2West
While a different video showed the Russian naval landing Olenegorsky Gornya being towed towards the harbour after it sustained significant damage.
The blast in the port was seen, some 450 nautical miles, from the Kyiv-held waters where the drone was likely launched.
Vladimir Putin’s forces deployed two warships to counter the strikes.
Ship movements in key port Novorossiysk – the second largest Russian-run after St Petersburg – were halted amid the drone strikes and sound of gunfire.
Two Russian naval vessels – landing ship Olenegorsky Gornyak and anti-sabotage boat Suvorovets – were deployed to shoot at the incoming surface drones.
Locals reported seeing “a bright flash over the sea and explosions”.
This was close to the facilities of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium, a major international oil pipeline system which delivers oil from western Kazakhstan to Black Sea terminals at Novorossiysk.
Explosions were reported after midnight and also closer to dawn as Russian air defences worked.
The Russian defence ministry said its forces had repelled two drone strikes in Novorossiysk.
It said in a statement: “Two unmanned sea boats attempted to attack the Novorossiysk naval base.
“During the repulse of the attack, unmanned boats were visually detected and destroyed by fire from the standard weapons of Russian ships guarding the outer raid of the naval base.”
Mayor Andrei Kravchenko said: “Today military units have worked effectively to protect our hero city.
“Our servicemen are technically provided with everything necessary to perform their tasks.
“All life support and logistics facilities are under reliable protection.”
Meanwhile, loud explosions were heard in Russian-held Crimea as Ukraine staged a nighttime attack on an oil depot in Feodosia.
Russians said they faced 13 drones and had shot down ten with three more disabled by electronic warfare jamming.
Pro-Russian sources said this was “air defences shooting down enemy drones in the Crimean town of Feodosia”
The Russian defence ministry said: “An attempt by the Kyiv regime to carry out a terrorist attack by aircraft-type UAVs on objects on the territory of the Crimean peninsula was thwarted.
“Ten drones were destroyed by air defence on duty. Three more enemy drones were suppressed by means of electronic warfare.”
The attack follows a series of strikes from air and sea Russia has faced lately as Kyiv vowed to bring the war close to Putin’s doorstep.
In the so-called “War of the Drones”, Ukraine has been fighting back with increased vigour and equipment, launching 120 suspected strikes deep into Russia in only six months.
The latest hit comes just days after a hit by HIMARS missiles in the Kherson region left hundreds of Russian soldiers dead.
