https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/u...utin-rknzngsps
Ukraine seizes Russian tanker Nika Spirit in row over naval ships held by Putin
Ukrainian forces have seized a Russian oil tanker close to the Black Sea in an incident condemned by Moscow as “piracy” and certain to strain tense relations further.
The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said that it had impounded the Russian ship in the port of Izmail in the Odessa region as evidence. It alleged that the ship had taken part in capturing three Ukrainian vessels and their 24 crew in November.
The SBU said the tanker
Nika Spirit had been identified by its maritime registration number as the former
Neyma, which took part in blocking the Kerch Strait to help to seize the
Ukrainian naval ships and their crews last year. The incident is likely to be an early test for the relationship between President Zelensky of Ukraine and President Putin. Mr Zelensky was elected in April and on Sunday his party swept parliamentary elections, giving him the majority needed to form a new government and make other appointments.
Russian officials said the ten crew of the tanker had been released and would travel by bus to Moldova, before flying to Moscow.
Leonid Slutsky, the head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s lower house of parliament, called the seizure of the ship “state-sponsored piracy” and an attempt to influence the prosecution of the arrested Ukrainian sailors, who are facing trial for allegedly crossing Russia’s border illegally.