LONDON/ISTANBUL (Reuters) – Ukraine has asked Turkey to seize and detain the Russian-flagged cargo ship Zhibek Zholy carrying a cargo of Ukrainian grain taken from the Russian-held port of Berdyansk, according to a Ukrainian official and a document seen by Reuters. The Ukrainian foreign ministry official, citing information received from the country’s maritime administration, said the 7,146-dwt Zhibek Zholy had loaded its first cargo of about 4,500 tons of grain from Berdyansk, which the official said belonged to Ukraine. In a June 30 letter to Turkey’s Justice Ministry, Ukraine’s attorney general separately said the Zhibek Zholy was involved in the “illegal export of Ukrainian grain” from Berdyansk and headed to Karasu, Turkey with a 7,000-ton cargo, which is larger. cargo than the official mentioned. Ukraine’s general prosecutor’s office has asked Turkey to “conduct an inspection of this sea vessel, seize samples of grain for forensic examination, demand information on the location of such grain,” the letter said, adding that Ukraine is ready to conduct a joint investigation with Turkish authorities. A Russian official in the Russian-held areas of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region said Thursday that after a several-month standoff the first cargo ship left the port of Berdyansk without naming the Zhibek Zholy. Kremlin officials in Moscow did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Friday. Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain from territories occupied by Russian forces since its invasion began in late February. The Kremlin has previously denied that Russia has stolen any Ukrainian grain. Turkey’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zhibek Zholy’s arrival. Kazakhstan-based KTZ Express confirmed to Reuters that the Zhibek Zholy was owned by the company, but said it was taken on a bareboat charter – when no crew or supplies are involved in the charter – from Russian company Green-Line, which was not named in no penalties. The story continues KTZ Express added that it is consulting with the parties involved and will comply with all sanctions and restrictions. Green-Line could not immediately be reached for comment. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry official added that the ship was headed for the Turkish port of Karasu. The vessel reported its position at anchor near the port of Karasu, according to Refinitiv ship tracking data on Friday. The data shows that it is crossing the Black Sea near Crimea. She has not listed Berdyansk as her destination in the past 48 hours – but tracking data relies on transponders updating their positions. Earlier this month, Russia’s defense minister said the Ukrainian ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol, controlled by Russian forces, were ready to resume grain shipments. Western countries have accused Russia of creating the risk of world hunger by preventing Ukraine from exporting grain through its Black Sea ports. Moscow denies responsibility for the international food crisis, blaming Western sanctions. (Reporting by Jonathan Saul in London and Jonathan Spicer in Istanbul, additional reporting by Tamara Vaal in Nur-Sultan and Omer Berberoglu in Istanbul; Editing by Frank Jack Daniel and Alison Williams)
