Ukraine releases sailors from captured Russian tanker
Russian Embassy in Kyiv stated that crew members of the Russian ship NEYMA that were detained by the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) in the port of Izmail have been released, reports RIA Novosti news agency. At the same time, the tanker remains under arrest.
The sailors were released with obligation to appear for questioning. They are currently considered to be witnesses in the case, reports strana.ua news outlet.
As previously reported, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) together with the Military Prosecutor's office detained a Russian cargo ship which, according to SBU, took part in the attack on the Ukrainian ships in the Kerch Strait in November 2018.
The SBU said that the sailors of the "NEYMA tanker by direct order of the leadership of the Russian Federal Security Service committed an act of armed aggression against the Ukrainian warships Nikopol, Berdyansk and the tugboat Yana Kapu in the Kerch Strait, which led to the capture of Ukrainian ships and 24 crew members by the Russian militants."
The SBU added that the tanker was searched, and Ukrainian intelligence officers seized documents, logs and radio communication records. The SBU also questioned the crew members.