The Russian Navy fired a warning shot at a Palau-flagged civilian cargo ship in the Black Sea, Interfax reports.

“The crew of the Russian Navy “Vasyl Bykov” forcibly stopped the cargo ship “Sukra Okan” flying the flag of Palau, which was heading to the Ukrainian port of Izmail in the Black Sea,” the Russian Ministry of Defense reported, TASS reports. .

After the inspection, the ship continued its journey to the port of destination, the Ministry of Defense of Russia reported.

“On August 13, around 06:40 Moscow time, in the southwestern part of the Black Sea, the patrol ship of the Black Sea Fleet “Vasyl Bykov”, while carrying out navigational control, detected a dry cargo ship.” “Shukra Okan” under the flag of Palau, which was heading to the Ukrainian port of Izmail.

The captain of the cargo ship did not respond to the request to stop the ship to check whether it was carrying prohibited cargo.

In order to forcibly stop the ship, a warning fire was fired from a small-caliber automatic weapon from a Russian warship,” Moscow reported.

According to the ministry, a Ka-29 helicopter with a group of Russian military took off from the Vasyl Bykov patrol ship to inspect the cargo ship, which stopped moving after exchanging radio messages, and the control team boarded it.

“After the completion of the work of the inspection team on board the vessel “Sukra Okan”, the vessel continued its course towards the port of Izmail. Ships of the Black Sea Fleet continue to patrol the designated areas,” the Russian Ministry of Defense reported.