Russian FSB turns back cargo ship suspected of shipping explosives

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
27 Jul 2023 13:11
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As part of its operation to prevent terrorist and sabotage acts and ensure maritime safety, the FSB detects another foreign civilian ship with "traces of explosive materials."

The Crimean Bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula to mainland Russia (Sputnik)

The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it had detected a foreign ship that was going from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don in Russia to ship grain and could have also been used to deliver explosive material to Ukraine.

"During the operation to prevent terrorist and sabotage acts and ensure maritime safety, the FSB has detected another foreign civilian ship that could have been earlier used to deliver explosive materials to the Ukrainian territory," the statement by the FSB read.

Yesterday, it was reported by Federal Authorities that explosives were detected on a cargo ship going from Turkey to the Russian city of Rostov-on-Don to ship grain, adding that the ship had been in a Ukrainian port earlier. The ship was prohibited from passing under the Crimean Bridge, forcing it to leave Russian territorial waters.

This comes as Ukrainian attacks on Crimea intensified in recent days as its army follows a new strategy following major failed attempts to penetrate Russian defenses on the frontlines. Ukraine has opted for long-range drone attacks and heavy artillery shelling of Russian territories, which have resulted in multiple civilian deaths.

In Crimea, Ukraine attempted at least five attacks in the past week, with the Russian Ministry of Defense saying it thwarted aggression comprising 28 Ukrainian Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) on July 18.

Earlier this week, a Ukrainian drone attack on Crimea caused the detonation of an ammunition depot, as residents living 5 kilometers in the vicinity of the targeted area were ordered to evacuate, the Head of Crimea said.

"As a result of an enemy drone on the Krasnogvardeisky district, there was a detonation at an ammunition depot," official Sergei Aksyonov said on Telegram.

"A decision was taken to evacuate people [living] within five kilometers" of the zone he stated, adding that "to minimize risks, it was also decided to halt rail traffic on Crimean railways."

Back in Mid-July, Two people were killed and a child was injured in an "emergency" incident that took place on the Crimean Bridge. The head of the Republic of Crimea accused on his Telegram page the "terrorist regime" in Kiev of being behind the event, which authorities called an "emergency incident" after explosions were heard in the morning.