Russian warship collides with a commercial vessel in the Black Sea, sailors reported missing
The Black Sea Fleet's reconnaissance ship, Liman, received breach below waterline in a collision with the Ashot-7 vessel, as reported by Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
"No members of the Liman crew were injured. The ship's crew is trying to rescue the vessel,” the Ministry’s statement reads.
“The incident occurred on Thursday at 11:53 am in the south-west of the Black Sea, 40 km north-west of the Bosporus Strait. The Liman collided with the Ashot-7 ship. Ashot-7’s country of origin is being determined,” said the Russian Ministry of Defense.
The Liman had received the breach below its waterline.
"The Black Sea Fleet rescue ships were dispatched to the accident area at 12:00 pm. The rescue team flew to the area of the incident on Antonov 26 aircraft,“ the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.
At the same time, the Turkish publication Daily Sabah Reports that 45 Russian seamen were rescued but 15 are still missing.
Liman is an average-size Black Sea Fleet reconnaissance ship. It was reported that at the end of January, the ship had returned from a mission to the Mediterranean.