Russian-flagged vessel carrying Ukrainian grain arrives in Turkey’s Black Sea port
A Russian ship carrying Ukrainian grain from Crimea’s Kerch entered Turkey’s Karasu port, geopolitical analyst Yoruk Isık said on Monday, amid Ukraine’s accusations against Russia over stolen grain exports, mainly to Turkey.
Russian-flagged Sormovskiy 48, carrying 3,000 tons of corn, arrived at Turkey's Black Sea port in northwestern Sakarya, without an automatic identification system, Isık, who runs Bosphorus Observer, a consultancy analyzing maritime activity on the Turkish Straits, said via Twitter.
The ship went dark from tracking three days prior with false destination of Turkey’s western Izmir province, he said.
Disappearing ships of the Black Sea: Russia's great grain plunder continues unabated. Russian flag Sormovskiy 48, carrying 3000t corn from occupied Kerch, enters the port of Karasu with no AIS. Vessel went dark from tracking 3 days ago with false destination Izmir. #OATT pic.twitter.com/Fo3wFuIi1f
— Yörük Işık (@YorukIsik) July 11, 2022
Ukraine, one of the world’s largest exporters of grain, blames Russia of stealing grain from its ports.
On June 25, Taras Vysotsky, Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food told Reuters that Russia has illegally exported at least 400,000 tons of grain from Ukraine since the invasion that has begun in late February. Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Ankara also told the news wire that Kyiv believes most of that has gone to Turkey.
While Moscow denies the accusations, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on June 23, said Turkey is against the illegal selling of Ukrainian grain to international markets by Russia or any other country. “We certainly do not allow the entry of such products to Turkey,” he said.
