The Russian military has threatened a foreign merchant ship passing near one of Ukraine’s seaports.
Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service announced this in a statement, the CFTS portal reports.
"The aggressor's warships continue to behave brazenly and defiantly in the Black Sea, violating all the norms of international maritime law," the statement said.
According to the statement, Ukrainian border guards intercepted a conversation between the Russian occupiers, who were using an open communication channel, and a ship passing near one of Ukraine's seaports.
"I am warning you that there is a ban on traffic to Ukrainian ports. In addition, Russia considers the transportation of any cargo to Ukraine as potential transportation of military cargo. The country under whose flag the vessel is sailing is considered involved in the conflict in Ukraine," the Russian military said after establishing contact with the ship.
On 19 July, the Russian Defense Ministry declared several areas in the northwestern and southeastern parts of the international waters in the Black Sea temporarily dangerous for navigation. The Russian Defense Ministry said that all ships sailing through the Black Sea to Ukrainian ports would be considered potential carriers of military cargo from 00:00 on 20 July.
In response, the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense announced Ukraine might consider all vessels sailing through the Black Sea to Russian seaports and Ukrainian seaports in Russian-occupied territories as vessels carrying military cargo, with all the accompanying risks, from 00:00 on 21 July 2023.
