Ukrainian ambassador: Russia using fraudulent schemes to send ships from Crimea to Turkey

"I will not deny. Indeed, some companies carry out transportation. But there is the official stance of the Turkish side — sea links with the ports of the occupied Crimea are forbidden. They are closed to sea links. The cases that, unfortunately, occasionally occur, are not systematic. They occur due to fraudulent schemes,” Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey Andrii Sybiha said in an interview with UATV.

In particular, the navigation systems are turned off, the documents are forged, and it is indicated when entering Turkish ports that the vessel has arrived from the territory of Russia without displaying entry to the ports of occupied Crimea, the ambassador explained.

According to him, the embassy knows the names, the owners of these vessels, and the Turkish side is being informed about their movement for the purpose of response. There is an intention to initiate the corresponding consultations with the Turkish side.

"Of course, inspections are made, but there is a fraudulent scheme and the concerted efforts, in particular, of the law enforcement agencies of the two countries, are needed [to eliminate it]. We will probably also initiate consultations with the Turkish side to enhance the effectiveness of our joint response to such cases. And there is no ferry service, all these are manifestations of the hybrid war," the diplomat said.

Last November, the information appeared about the launch of ferry service between the occupied Crimea and Turkey. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Turkey denied the information.

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