Espreso. Global

Russia's provocation with cargo ship in Black Sea could affect its oil transportation

14 August, 2023 Monday
15:50

After the Kremlin's brazen move to intercept a Turkish vessel, the Sukru Okan, Ankara may tighten security measures across the Bosphorus, which could be fatal for Russia 

Defense Express writes about it. 

In a recent incident on August 13, the Russian Black Sea Fleet attempted to intercept the Turkish ship Sukru Okan, which flies the Palau flag. This incident occurred either within Turkey's territorial waters, according to analysts from the Institute of Black Sea Strategic Studies, or in the waters of a NATO country, as indicated by sources from the Olvia tanker, reported by the Snform Napalm community.

Officially, Ankara has refrained from providing conclusive statements, stating that the incident is currently under investigation.

The Russian activity near Turkey's coast, involving the dispatch of an inspection team from the patrol ship Vasily Bykov via a Ka-29 helicopter to inspect the civilian vessel, raises questions about Moscow's decision-making.

Turkey holds a powerful card in the form of the Bosphorus Strait, which it can use to exert control over maritime traffic. While civil navigation through the strait remains ostensibly free, Turkey has gradually imposed security measures since the mid-1990s. These measures include mandatory insurance, daylight-only passage for larger vessels, specific passage times, and obligatory tugboat escorts for vessels carrying hazardous cargo.

Recent tightening of these regulations was prompted by an incident involving the vessel Vita Spirit, which lost control and crashed into a shoreline house.

Ankara's ability to further tighten security measures in the Bosphorus could seriously impact Russia's oil transportation. It could be  mandatory tugboat escort for old tankers and even greater insurance coverage. And for Russia, which has chartered an ancient fleet to transport oil through the Black Sea, this could be fatal. 

The Kremlin's earnings from exporting oil products through this route amount to billions of dollars.

Given Turkey's significant leverage in the Black Sea region, it possesses a plausible pretext to respond to the recent incident as a means of safeguarding shipping security.

  • On August 13, at about 6:40 a.m. Russia's Black Sea Fleet opened fire in what it describes as "warning shots" to stop and inspect the Sukru Okan cargo ship in the southwestern waters of the Black Sea. The ship was sailing under the flag of Palau and was en route to Ukraine's Izmail port
  • InformNapalm, an international intelligence group, revealed that Russia's claims of a successful inspection of the Sukru Okan cargo ship in the Black Sea, along with firing warning shots, are untrue



 
Read also:
  • News
2023, Saturday
9 December
14:10
Avdiivka's industrial area may turn gray, winter affects defense - Freedom Legion officer
13:47
Russian forces shell Kherson, wounding woman, damaging infrastructure
13:25
Russia is expanding fortifications near occupied Mariupol - mayor's adviser
13:01
Ukraine investigates over 3,000 Russian war crimes against children - Prosecutor General
12:39
UK intelligence explains why Russia attacks Snake Island with risk to crews, aircraft
12:15
Ukrainian army destroys 900 Russian soldiers, 11 vehicles, 6 tanks - General Staff
11:52
Russian army attacks Beryslav, killing one civilian, injuring another
11:28
Ukraine is deploying all reserves to hold Avdiivka: Russian fakes for December 8
11:03
Exclusive
Russia strengthens total control in temporarily occupied Nova Kakhovka - mayor
10:40
ISW reports active Russian attacks near Avdiivka
2023, Friday
8 December
22:00
Review
Victorious news on 653rd day of war: aid package from Germany, Ukraine and Sweden discuss supplying Gripen fighter jets
21:45
OPINION
Putin deceives Arabs from OPEC
21:29
Free navigation: International Maritime Organization to send mission to help Ukraine
21:10
Ukrainian forces repel 32 Russian attacks in Avdiivka sector, 20 in Marinka sector - General Staff
20:50
OPINION
First time leading Polish politician admits Ukrainian-Polish border blockade is national security issue
20:29
Exclusive
Ukraine receives German Luna NG UAV: Defense Express tells more about it
20:10
Ukrainian boxer Yarchevsky killed in war with Russia
19:51
Exclusive
Map of fighting in Kupyansk sector
Russia amasses troops near Synkivka - Ukrainian brigade on Kupyansk sector
19:30
Olympics 2024: Russians, Belarusians allowed to compete in neutral status
19:10
Exclusive
How many missiles can Russia use in one attack? Aviation expert names maximum number
18:50
UAVs, grenade launchers and ammunition: Germany hands over new aid package to Ukraine
18:30
Exclusive
map of fighting near Avdiivka
Russian forces are increasingly using 'meat assaults' in Avdiivka sector
18:10
Exclusive
Russia prepares mobilization after Putin's re-election - expert Stupak
17:50
Russia stops providing medical care to Ukrainians without its passports in Luhansk region
17:31
Ukrainian parliament adopts law on national minority rights
17:14
OPINION
What about US aid? Has everyone abandoned us? Are we all going to die?
16:55
Four EU trade unions call for boycott of Polish carriers due to Ukrainian border blockade
16:37
Potential impact of freezing war in Ukraine: Analysis by military expert Kovalenko
16:20
Review
Ukrainian counteroffensive: achievements and setbacks in summer-autumn campaign
16:02
German bank will provide over EUR 24 million to create energy-efficient housing for internally displaced Ukrainians
15:45
Scandalous and dangerous decision: Ukrainian MP comments on Poland’s investigation into Operation Vistula 
15:28
Russian shelling damages frontline thermal power plant
15:15
Putin announces his intention to run for president in 2024
15:02
Updated
Russia attacks Ukraine with cruise missiles, resulting in casualties: one person killed, 8 injured in Dnipropetrovsk region
14:33
Finland refuses to extradite Petrovsky, one of leaders in Russian Rusich Group, to Ukraine
14:16
OPINION
Without Kyiv's membership in NATO, civilized world will lose
13:58
Exclusive
Russia fears expansion of Ukrainian bridgehead on left bank of Kherson region - military expert Zgurets
13:41
Apache and Black Hawk: helicopters price and waiting time 
13:23
In Ukraine, almost 500 settlements without power due to weather, hostilities and technological failures
13:04
Exclusive
Destroys targets at distance up to 8 km: Zgurets tells about US VAMPIRE anti-missile system
More news