Ukrainian cereals: Russian freighter Zhibek Zholy in Russian waters

The Zhibek Zholy, which was anchored in the harbor of the port of Karasu, on the Black Sea, emitted its last signal about twenty kilometers from the Turkish coast, according to the specialized site Marine Traffic, which allows you to follow maritime traffic live .

According to the senior Turkish official, who requested anonymity, "he entered Russian territorial waters, but did not approach a port" for the moment.

Turkish news agency DHA says the cargo ship cut off its transponder, the device used to track ships at sea.

The Ukrainian authorities had deplored earlier Thursday that the boat was able to leave the Turkish coast, demanding an explanation from Ankara.

"We regret that the Russian ship Zhibek Zholy, loaded with stolen Ukrainian grain, was allowed to leave the port of Karasu despite the evidence (...) presented to the Turkish authorities", tweeted the spokesperson for the Ukrainian diplomacy, Oleg Nikolenko.

"The Turkish ambassador in Kyiv will be invited (to the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry) to clarify this unacceptable situation," he added.

A Turkish diplomatic source confirmed to AFP that the Turkish ambassador to kyiv had been "summoned".

Russian diplomacy acknowledged on Wednesday that Turkish checks were underway on the ship.

A crew member, quoted on condition of anonymity by Russian news agency TASS, said the ship's cargo would be transferred to another freighter to let the Zhibek Zholy sail again.

Ukraine, which accuses Russia of stealing its wheat crops, claimed that the Zhibek Zholy, which left last Thursday from the Ukrainian port of Berdiansk, under Russian occupation, is loaded with 7,000 tonnes of grain obtained illegally.

The Ukrainian embassy in Ankara asked Turkey the next day to stop the Russian ship.

Since the start of the case, the Turkish authorities have remained silent.

A member of NATO, Turkey is considered an ally of Ukraine to which it supplies combat drones, but it takes care to maintain a neutral position towards Russia, on which it depends for its gas supplies in particular.

© 2022 AFP