ZHIBEK ZHOLY

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Turkey released Russian freighter with stolen grain

The 'Zhibek Zholy' has been released by Turkey, has left the anchorage of Karasu and was en route to Kavkaz as of July 7. The ship has on board 70000 tons wheat which Russia stole from the Ukraine. Kyiv was summoning Turkey's ambassador to Ukraine: "Ignoring the appeal of the Ukrainian side, the ship was released on the evening of July 6. In connection with the unacceptable situation, the ambassador of Turkey in Kyiv was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.

Ship with stolen grain remains moored off Karasu

The 'Zhibek Zholy' which is at the centre of a fight over grain between Kyiv and Moscow remained anchored on July 5 off Turkey's Black Sea coast four days after its unexpected arrival. Ukraine alleges that the 'Zhibek Zholy' had set off from its Kremlin-occupied port of Berdyansk after picking up illegally seized wheat. Moscow concedes that the vessel was sailing under the Russian flag but denies any wrongdoing. Turkey has said nothing official in public as it tries to maintain its open relations with both Moscow and Kyiv while facing Ukrainian pressure to seize the ship. Russia claims to have “nationalised” Ukrainian state infrastructure and to be buying crops from local farmers. Ukraine says the grain is being illegally seized and used to fund Russia's war effort. The ship stopped one kilometer off port of Karasu and was impounded by local coastguards. Report with photo: https://www.thesundaily.my/world/disputed-russian-cargo-ship-remains-stranded-off-turkish-coast-KB9416840

Ship with stolen Ukrainian gran arrested in Turkey

The 'Zhibek Zholy' has been detained on July 3 after Ukraine has requested Turkey to detain the vessel, carrying grain taken from the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk. The Ukrainian foreign ministry official, citing information received from the country’s maritime administration, said the vessel had loaded the first cargo of some 4,500 tonnes of grain from Berdyansk, which belonged to Ukraine. In a letter dated June 30 to Turkey’s justice ministry, Ukraine’s prosecutor general’s office said separately that the 'Zhibek Zholy' was involved in the “illegal export of Ukrainian grain” from Berdyansk and headed to Karasu with 7,000 tonnes of cargo. Turkey’s foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment by Reuters on the arrival of the Zhibek Zholy. Ukraine has accused Russia of stealing grain from the territories that Russian forces have seized since its invasion. The Turkish authorities detained the ship off the port. Its fate will be decided by a meeting of investigators on July 4.