Russian Destroyer Hands Rescued Ukrainian Vessel to Greek Authorities

Russia's Vice-Admiral Kulakov anti-submarine destroyer has handed the rescued Ukrainian fishing vessel to Greek services, which will work to restore its operating condition, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The ministry said on Thursday that the Vice-Admiral Kulakov received a distress signal from the vessel registered at the port of Mariupol with seven Ukrainian citizens on board.

"The Northern Fleet's large anti-submarine ship Vice-Admiral Kulakov handed the Ukrainian fishing vessel No. 097 to the arriving rescue service ships near the Greek island of Gavdos (30 miles south of Crete), which will soon begin to restore its technical serviceability," the ministry said.

It noted that the Ukrainian crew members thanked their Russian colleagues for the assistance.

The destroyer resumed operations as part of the naval task force stationed in the Mediterranean after wrapping up the rescue mission, the Russian ministry said.

The Ukrainian fishing vessel lost way on November 21 and was adrift for two days, the defense ministry said earlier, noting that the rescue operation was hampered by severe weather.