Turkey released the detained Russian ship transporting stolen Ukrainian grain

On July 6, Turkey ignored Ukraine's appeal and released the Russian ship "Zhibek Zholy" detained in the port of Karasu. The vessel was transporting stolen Ukrainian grain, says Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.

"Zhibek Zholy" was heading from occupied Berdiansk to the Turkish port of Karasu. Thanks to the intervention of Ukraine, the ship failed to unload the stolen cargo and was detained. A request was sent to the Turkish side to seize the vessel and grain. But the ship was released on July 6, reports Ukraine's Foreign Ministry.

"The Ukrainian side received the mentioned information with deep disappointment and appeals to the Turkish side with an urgent request to conduct an investigation into the mentioned situation and provide a comprehensive answer to the requests of the relevant Ukrainian authorities, as well as by all means to prevent similar cases in the future," the Ministry said.

The Turkish Ambassador was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine "in connection with the unacceptable situation that has arisen."

Background

On July 3, Turkish customs authorities detained a Russian cargo ship with stolen grain. The ship probably brought cargo from the temporarily occupied Berdiansk.

At the same time, journalists of the investigative project Cxemu (Radio Liberty) reported on July 5 that Russia systematically exports stolen Ukrainian grain through Crimea to the ports of Turkey despite the Turkish authorities' statement that the country does not buy grain from the Russian Federation delivered from the occupied territories. The Russians turn off the radars on the ships transporting stolen grain, but the delivery process is regularly caught on satellite images.