Shipping tension in the Black Sea has edged a notch higher after Russia fired warning shots at a commercial vessel, the Sukra Okan, which was on its way to Ukraine’s southernmost Port of Izmail, although this could not be confirmed.
The bulk cargo carrier was sailing off the west coast of Bulgaria when naval personnel on board the patrol boat, Vasily Bykov, sent semi-automatic rifle fire across the deck of the Sukra Okan.
According to the Russian Defence Ministry, this was after the vessel initially refused to stop.
The ministry claims the vessel was on its way to Izmail, although it has since called at the Romanian Port of Sulina, further southwest on the Danube River.
CNN reports: “In order to inspect the bulk cargo ship, a Ka-29 helicopter with a group of Russian servicemen was hoisted from the patrol ship,” the ministry said.
“Following radio conversations, the ship stopped its course and the boarding team landed on the bulk cargo ship,” the statement said.
Further reports that the servicemen had committed piracy while on board the Sukra Okan have been refuted by Russia.
The incident comes after Ukraine said it would do whatever was necessary to continue exporting food to help meet the demand in global markets for wheat and sunflower seed.
Russia though has warned that it cannot guarantee the safety of commercial vessels, ever since it pulled out of the UN-backed Black Sea Grain Initiative towards the end of July, a deal that was spearheaded by the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
Immediately after Russia pulled out of the grain deal, warplanes from member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation started protecting vessels sailing south of Ukrainian ports.
Last night’s incident off the Bulgarian coast will undoubtedly also increase tension between Russia and Türkiye, as the Sukra Okan sails under the flag of Palau but is Turkish-owned.
The boarding of a cargo ship by Russian seamen also follows in the wake of a fire that erupted at Türkiye’s Port of Derince, triggering a blast that could’ve resulted from compacted wheat dust – or sabotage.
Sky News reported that last night’s incident was likely to further raise tensions – and heighten concerns in the shipping industry about the risks of doing business in the region.
“Any potential disruption to shipping routes could have a knock-on effect on global supply chains and prices.
“Ukraine and its allies have accused Russia's warnings to vessels in the Black Sea as amounting to an effective blockade of Ukrainian ports that threatens to cut off the flow of wheat and sunflower seeds to world markets.
“Russia has rejected the claim and has, in turn, accused the West of failing to implement a parallel agreement to ease rules for its own food and fertiliser exports.”
