Ukrainian border guards intercept Russian threats to merchant ship in Black Sea

Ukraine’s border guards intercepted threats from a Russian ship to a merchant ship in the Black Sea. This was reported by the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

"The aggressor's warships continue to behave brazenly and defiantly in the Black Sea, violating all the rules of international maritime law," the statement said.

Ukraine’s border guards managed to intercept the conversation of the occupying Russian forces on July 27. Russians got in touch with a ship passing near one of the seaports of Ukraine through an open channel and said: "I am warning you about the ban on movement to the ports of Ukraine. The Russian side considers the transport of any cargo to Ukraine to be a potential military cargo. The country under whose flag the vessel is travelling is considered to be involved in the conflict in Ukraine. Over."

The head of the President's Office, Andriy Yermak, responded to the situation.

"Russian warships are threatening civilians in the Black Sea, violating all the norms of international maritime law. These are the methods of terrorists. Force is an effective tool against terrorism," he wrote.

Yermak noted that the international community should condemn the actions of the Russian forces. 

As a reminder, the International Maritime Organisation recently called on Russia to stop threatening merchant shipping in the Black Sea. The IMO welcomed Ukraine's efforts to ensure the safety, stability and freedom of international navigation.

The United Kingdom believes that Russia may intensify its campaign to destroy Ukraine's food exports. UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly noted that Russia could fire on civilian ships in the Black Sea to do so.

And White House National Security Council spokesman Adam Hodge said that the United States has information that the aggressor country has installed additional sea mines on the approaches to Ukrainian ports, and also believes that Russia is preparing a false flag operation against Ukraine's grain exports.