Ukraine asks Turkey to stop a Russian ship in its waters
Latest episode in the grain war between kyiv and Moscow: the Ukrainian embassy in Ankara on Friday asked Turkey to stop a Russian ship that arrived near its coast on the Black Sea from the port Ukrainian from Berdyansk, under Russian occupation. kyiv suspects the boat of transporting thousands of tons of grain stolen by the Russians.
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Le Zhibek Zholya 140m-long freighter flying the Russian flag, anchored about a kilometer from the port of Karasu on the Turkish coast east of Istanbul, according to the Marine Traffic site which tracks the movements of the boats. .
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“The “Zhibek Zholy” from occupied Berdansk entered the port of Karasu. At the request of the Prosecutor of Ukraine, we asked the Turkish side to take the necessary measures” said Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar on Twitter, but he did not specify what the cargo is on board.
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In early June, Mr. Bodnar accused Russia of stealing the grain: “Russia shamelessly steals grain from Ukraine and exports it from Crimea abroad, especially to Turkey”he denounced.
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According to Marine Traffic, the vessel had cut off its transponder within twelve hours of its approach to Turkey. The transponder, obligatory during navigation, emits a satellite signal which makes it possible to permanently locate the buildings.
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The Ukrainian diplomat welcomes the “good communication and intensive cooperation with the Turkish authorities”. “We asked for help from Turkey to solve the problem”he adds
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Ankara has offered its assistance, at the request of the United Nations, to secure maritime corridors allowing the export of Ukrainian cereals blocked in the ports. Turkey is considered an ally of Ukraine to which it provides combat drones, but Ankara is careful to maintain a neutral position towards Russia, on which it depends for its gas supplies in particular.
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