Pirates kidnap Ukrainian off Benin

22.04.2020 10:38

Ukrinform

Pirates have attacked a Portuguese-flagged vessel off the coast of Benin and kidnapped a Ukrainian citizen, a crew member of the ship, Director of the Consular Service Department of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Serhii Pohoreltsev has told Ukrinform.

The diplomat said that Ukraine's Embassy in Germany received a report on April 20 that the pirated attacked the Tommi Ritscher (IMO 9656137), a Portuguese-flagged vessel operated by Transeste Schiffahrt Gmbh (Germany), off the coast of Benin.

"According to tentative reports, as a result of the attack, one citizen of Ukraine, a crew member of the ship, was captured and taken away in an unknown direction," Pohoreltsev said.

He added that Ukraine's Consulate General in Hamburg had contacted the vessel's operator to clarify the circumstances of the case. In addition, Ukraine's Embassy in Nigeria, which is responsible for Benin, appealed to Benin's competent authorities to confirm the abduction of the Ukrainian citizen.

"The case is under the control of the concerned foreign diplomatic institutions of Ukraine and the Consular Service Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," Pohoreltsev said.

Earlier, Russian media reported the capture of three Russian sailors from the ship by pirates.

Benin is a state in West Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria, Niger, Burkina Faso, Togo, and the Gulf of Guinea.