Seven merchant vessels inspected in Azov Sea by Russian FSB

Seven merchant vessels headed for Ukrainian ports were stopped for inspection in the Azov Sea by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) on July 8 and 9, the State Border Service confirmed on July 9. The inspections were legally conducted and the vessels were allowed to travel to their destinations in the Ukrainian ports of Mariupol and Berdiansk, the spokesman told the pravda.com.ua news site. The Border Service know of these reviews, documents them and transfers the information to law enforcement bodies, he said.

 

The morning of July, Deputy Parliamentary Speaker Oksana Syroyid made an alarming statement before reporters at a parliamentary meeting that the vessels were arrested as part of Russia’s war on Ukraine. “This threat only means the military aggression is growing. This is a prolongation of the war,” she said.

 

To clarify the situation, the border service spokesman said “any of the sides can freely travel throughout the sea basin and inspect those vessels that are suspicious or for other reasons. It’s another matter that Russia now uses this inspection of vessels as an element of political and economic pressure against Ukraine. But it is not arresting these ships.”

 

Zenon Zawada: Russia’s latest campaign of aggression against Ukraine is targeting the Azov Sea, which it desires to control despite Ukrainian maritime rights to access it. Recall in June, Russia repositioned five military vessels to its ports on the Azov Sea, which now include those situated in Crimea. While these latest inspections were considered legitimate by the Border State Service, we expect more pressure and accusations of violations.

 

Syroyid’s alarming statements reveal that Ukrainian politicians will use the current war, and public fears surrounding the war, to gain votes during the election campaign. It also reveals that Ukraine’s pro-Western political forces are competing fiercely, rather than uniting for the campaign, given Syroyid harshly criticized the president in her remarks.