Russia’s Defense Ministry said a Russian warship Vasily Bykov fired warning shots and rammed the Palau-flagged cargo ship Sukru Okan in the Black Sea.
The ministry said its warship fired warning shots when the dry cargo ship failed to respond to a request to stop for inspection on Sunday.
“Warning shots were fired from automatic weapons to force the ship to stop,” it said.
Russian soldiers boarded the ship with the help of a Ka-29 helicopter.
“After the inspection group completed its work on board, Sukru Okon continued its way to the port of Izmail.”
The ministry said the cargo ship was headed to the Ukrainian port of Izmail, but Refinitiv shipping data showed the cargo ship’s destination was the Romanian port of Sulina, which is close to Izmail.