Zaporozhye Region Head Denies Russian Cargo Ship Seized in Turkey on Suspicion of Smuggling Grain

SIMFEROPOL, Russia (Sputnik) - Yevgeny Balytsky, the head of the Zaporozhye Region's new military-civilian administration, denied on Tuesday that Russian-flagged cargo ship Zhibek Zholy had been detained in Turkey on suspicion of smuggling Ukrainian grain.

"The cargo ship was not seized. We, our grain company, did not have an injunction on this cargo ship. Our company was only a transiter, the contract was concluded between a Tallinn-based and Turkish companies in this case. It is unlikely that anything negative will happen to this vessel in terms of law," Balytsky told the Rossiya 24 broadcaster.

Last week, Ukrainian Ambassador to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar claimed that the vessel had been seized. A source in the Turkish customs agency told Sputnik on Sunday that a Russian cargo ship had been detained.

A Russian-flagged cargo ship transporting 7,000 tonnes of grain left the Black Sea port of Berdyansk on Thursday. Its detention by Turkey was requested by the Ukrainian ambassador, who claimed that the grain on board is Ukrainian, according to reports. Earlier on Tuesday, the Turkish newspaper Aydinlik reported that there was no seizure of the contents of the Russian ship, and the investigation is continuing.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has called for an investigation into the matter.

"It is unacceptable to try to create this crisis artificially. There are no problems with the export of our grain, our fertilizers, except for the problems created by the Western sanctions," Lavrov added.

World leaders and international organizations have been raising concerns over an imminent and large-scale food crisis since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February, citing disruptions to supply chains, soaring prices, and derailed crops production in one of the largest grain-producing regions in the world.

Western countries have accused Russia of blocking grain shipments in Ukraine's Black Sea ports. Moscow insists that the ports were mined by Ukraine, making shipments impossible. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Russia does not prevent the export of grain from Ukraine, and if Kiev demines the ports, ships with grain will be able to leave without difficulty.