When Russia announced the ‘humanitarian corridors’ for ships, it was most probably looking for hostages to use as ‘a live shield’ which could cover the Russian fleet while it would shell the Ukrainian territory from sea.
This was the announcement shared by the State Border Service of Ukraine (the SBS).
On March 24, one of the Russian warships used the international connection line to address all the vessels blocked in Ukrainian ports, with the proposal to leave ports via the ‘humanitarian corridor’. At the same time, soldiers of the aggressor country blamed the
Ukrainian fleet, without any reason or proof, that Ukrainians allegedly mined the Black Sea and were blocking the exit of foreign vessels.
"They forgot to mention who has been pretending to be the ‘masters of the sea’ since March 3 this year and acting contrary to the norms of international maritime law, the safety of navigation, and common sense," the SBS said.
Russian warships blocked all waterways in the Azov sea and in the northwestern part of the Black Sea. "At the same time, ‘pirates under the tricolor flag’ openly threatened to use weapons to any vessel that would risk exercising the right of peaceful passage, calling them a terrorist threat," - reminded border guards.
During all this time, about 100 foreign merchant vessels remain blocked in Ukrainian ports. And Russian ships periodically shell the coast of Ukraine and sometimes even hit foreign vessels.
"In the three weeks of the blockade of the northwestern Black Sea region, naval military ‘pirates’ seized two Ukrainian civilian ships, threatening them with weapons from Romanian waters near Zmyynyi Island. They fired on five foreign ships, one of which sank, another one turned into a time-bound environmental bomb drifting uncontrollably on the high seas with more than 500 tons of burning diesel fuel … Then suddenly - a gesture of ‘goodwill’ - the opening of a humanitarian corridor. Please pay attention to the fact that the humanitarian corridor declared by Russia has not been confirmed or guaranteed by any agreements at the international level. And trust in the "good intentions" of a country that defiantly violates international maritime law can be fatal - leading to the destruction of ships and the death of crews," - said the SBGS.
Border guards reminded that on March 7, Russian tanks started to advance and fire in the direction of the agreed humanitarian corridors near Mariupol. And the area where the Russians were inviting foreign ships to form their "humanitarian convoy" was exactly the area from where Russian ships and planes were constantly shelling the coast of Ukraine.
"So, Russia's intentions become clear - under the guise of a humanitarian mission, they are trying to create a ‘live shield’ of civilian ships to be able to continue shelling of Ukraine without punishment. Realizing this and listening to the recommendations of the Ukrainian side, none of the foreign ships accepted Russia's proposal." - emphasized the SBGS.
As a reminder, on March 25, the Russian warship shelled the village of Sanzhiyka near Odessa. Three hours later, the general of the same Russian ship announced the creation of a humanitarian corridor for the safe exit of foreign ships from Ukrainian ports.
From the very first days of the invasion, Russia declared the northwestern part of the Black Sea a war zone and began shelling foreign civilian ships in violation of the rules of civil shipping and international humanitarian laws. As a result of missile strikes, the occupants sank a dry cargo ship Helt sailing under the flag of Panama, hit a tanker Millennial Spirit sailing under the Moldovan flag, and fired at two bulk carriers, Namura Queen and Lord Nelson, under the flag of Panama, which were anchored in the northern part of the Black Sea, causing significant damage to the vessels.
Russian military ‘pirates’ also captured a humanitarian search and rescue ship, the Sapfir, which belongs to the Naval Search and Rescue Service, and which was carrying out a humanitarian mission at the time of the capture.