Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) announces the discovery of traces of explosives on board a bulk cargo ship en route from Turkey to Rostov-on-Don with grain. “In May, this vessel was in the Ukrainian port of Kilia,” the Russian propaganda agency TASS reported on Monday, July 24, citing the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
It is alleged that traces of dinitrotoluene and tetryl explosives were allegedly found on July 22 in the hold of a bulk carrier during control measures taken to “prevent terrorist and sabotage acts against ships passing through the Kerch Strait.” It is also reported that “signs of outside interference with the structural parts of the bulk carrier have been detected”.
At the same time, the FSB claims that at the end of May the vessel was in the Ukrainian port of Kilia, and in July, in a Turkish port, the crew of 12 Ukrainian citizens was completely replaced and the name of the vessel was changed. These circumstances, according to the FSB, may allegedly indicate the possibility of “using a foreign civilian vessel to deliver explosives to the territory of Ukraine,” TASS reports.
Russia may attack civilian vessels in the Black Sea
As a reminder, Russia withdrew from the grain deal on July 18, warning that all ships heading to Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea would be considered potential carriers of military cargo.
At the same time, the White House warned that Russia could expand its targets in Ukraine related to grain infrastructure, including attacking civilian vessels in the Black Sea. They said that US officials have information that Russia has laid additional sea mines on the approaches to Ukrainian ports.
