Russian Black Sea Fleet Officers Charged for Abusing Ukrainian Rescue Ship Crew

Two officers of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have been formally charged for the cruel treatment of the crew of the Ukrainian rescue ship Sapphire, which was captured near Snake Island during a humanitarian mission.

According to the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office on July 9, the incident took place on February 26, 2022. The Sapphire—an unarmed civilian vessel—was evacuating the wounded and deceased from the area around Snake Island when it was intercepted by Russian warships. On board were 17 crew members and four civilians: a medic, an electrician, and two priests.

All those on board were detained and subjected to inhumane conditions—denied food, water, and medical care. Investigators report that the captives were physically abused and threatened with execution while being held aboard the Russian reconnaissance ship Ekvator and the tugboat Shakhter, which had been repurposed for military use.

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The Ukrainian citizens were later unlawfully transported to temporarily occupied Crimea, where they remained in captivity until their release in a prisoner exchange. The Sapphire was eventually returned to Ukraine.

Efforts are ongoing to locate and bring the suspects to justice.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia had relocated a number of vessels from its Black Sea Fleet due to sustained Ukrainian naval drone strikes, highlighting the effectiveness of these attacks in altering Russian naval deployments.

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