Ukraine expects to confiscate 4.5 thousand tons of grain.
A high-ranking Turkish official confirmed to Reuters the detention of the dry cargo ship “Zhibek Zholy”, which was transporting grain that the Russians could steal in Ukraine.
“The ship “Zhibek Zholy” was stopped at the port of Karasu on request (Ukraine – ed.). Allegations are being thoroughly investigated. It is not written on the grain who it belongs to,” said the interlocutor of the journalists.
Ukraine's ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar also reported on the vessel's detention on July 3, but the Turkish side did not give official comments.
The Russian side continues to claim that it does not have information about the detention of a cargo ship, and demands confirmation from Turkey through diplomatic channels.
“The Kremlin has no information about the detention of Russian-flagged cargo in Turkey. The Turkish side, in case of detention, should provide information through our embassy or consulate general,” said the Russian President's spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
According to the Turkish official, Ankara is in contact with Russia, the UN and third parties on this matter. The dry cargo is anchored a kilometer from the port, its further fate should be decided by the results of today's meeting. Ukraine expects to confiscate 4,500 tons of grain.
Read also: Dry cargo, probably with stolen Ukrainian grain, entered the Turkish port
The dry cargo ship belongs to the Kazakh company KTZ Express, but flies under the Russian flag. KTZ Express explained to journalists that the ship was taken on a bareboat charter (charter without a crew) by the Russian company “Green-Line”, which is not under sanctions.
A few days earlier, a collaborator Yevhen Balytskyi, appointed by the occupiers as the “head of the Zaporizhia region”, announced that the first ship with grain “for countries friendly to Russia” left occupied Berdyansk, but did not specify the name.
On July 1, the dry cargo ship “Zhibek Zholy” entered the Turkish port of Karasu » from Berdyansk. Ukraine asked Turkey to detain and arrest the vessel, assuming that its cargo might be stolen. Russian occupiers have actively exported Ukrainian grain from the temporarily occupied territories of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, provoking a global food crisis.
See special topic: Rebuilding Ukraine is also about what needs to be done now – Zelenskyi The President, in particular, reminded of the need to restore liberated settlements and prepare country before winter. Ukraine wants security guarantees regarding grain exports – Zelenskyy Negotiations on this issue are underway with Turkey and the UN. The mayor of Slovyansk urged residents of the city to evacuate due to increased Russian shelling Vadym Lyakh noted that the city will be one of the next targets of the Russian Federation. Putin has not abandoned his plans to seize the south of Ukraine – Kim The Ukrainian military is ready to defend itself in case of a real threat. The head of the British Foreign Ministry announced the Marshall Plan for Ukraine Great Britain will also hold a conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine in 2023.
