Russia threatening civilian ship in Black Sea, seeking to use it as shield

Russia employs piracy tactics against civilian vessels in the Black Sea.

The Ukrainian Navy issued the relevant report on Facebook, as seen by Ukrinform.

“For the safety of civil navigation, the Navy of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has shut down navigation in the north-western part of the Black Sea. At the same time, the Russian Black Sea Fleet continues the tactics of the Russian ground forces, trying to hide behind the lives of civilians," the statement reads.

Thus, as of March 2, Russian warships require the civilian ship HELT to enter the dangerous zone of the Black Sea so that the occupiers can use the civilian ship as a shield, otherwise Russian warships will open fire on the HELT ship.

"This is nothing but 21st-century piracy," the Navy said.

During the full-scale invasion, on February 24, the Russian fleet had already fired on two civilian ships and captured another two (including the Sapphire search and rescue ship, which was carrying out a humanitarian mission).

As Ukrinform reported, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on the partner states to condemn the piracy of the Russian Navy in the Black Sea and to react accordingly to stop Russia's insidious actions.