Russia's defense ministry said Sunday (August 13) one of its warships fired warning shots and boarded the cargo ship Sukru Okan, which it claimed was headed to Ukraine's Black Sea port of Izmail, weeks after it pulled out of the Black Sea Grain Initiative brokered by Turkey and the United Nations (UN).
In a statement, Russian military officials said its patrol ship Vasily Bykov fired the shots after the captain of the Sukru Okan failed to respond to a request to stop for an inspection.
The Kremlin previously warned that any ships headed to Ukraine would be treated as potentially carrying weapons, while Kyiv made similar threats to ships traveling to Russian ports, CNN reported.
However, marine traffic websites currently showed the vessel's destination was the Romanian port of Sulina, which was close to Izmail.
Ukrainian officials did not comment on whether or not the ship was headed for Ismail or any Ukrainian port, but it condemned what it called Russia's "provocative actions."
Natalia Humeniuk, the spokesperson for Ukraine's southern military command, also stressed other official sources had not confirmed the Russian statement.
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A Short Reprieve to Escape
This week, Ukraine announced that it would open up a temporary humanitarian corridor for ships to sail to and from its ports and has opened up registration for merchant vessels to use the sea route.
Ukrainian Navy spokesperson Dmytro Pletenchuk said the temporary routes aimed to address the global food security crisis which would allow shipowners and companies to take back their merchant vessels "that are in humanitarian captivity due to the constant threats of Russians at sea."
Pletenchuk added ship owners and captains have been warned of the existing danger and said Ukrainian forces would ensure the security of the merchant ships sailing through the corridors, with the Navy "doing everything we can to ensure security."
However, it remains unclear when ships might use the route given the potential dangers there.
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