russian forces threatened to shell a civilian vessel on the morning of 21 May. The Britta K ship under the flag of Togo was transiting through Ukrainian territorial waters near Zmiinyi island. While doing so she received a signal from russian demanding to leave "russian" territorial waters, the Naval Forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces reported on Facebook.
Otherwise, the rf's army threatened to open fire.
"The rf is trying to illegally appropriate Ukraine's territory, now even without the so-called "pseudo-referendums", last time it was Hitler during World War 2 who did something like that. But we will not give up our territories and the invaders will definitely follow their warship!" – the Naval Forces emphasized.
Russians have not only threatened but also shelled civilian vessels in Ukrainian waters. They even sank several ships.
Since the first days of the invasion, the rf declared the north-western part of the Black sea a zone of hostilities and in violation of security norms and international humanitarian law started shelling foreign civilian vessels. As a result of the shellings, russians sank a dry cargo ship, Helt, under the flag of Panama, struck a tanker Millennial Spirit under the flag of Moldova, and in the northern part of the Black sea two bulk carriers, Namura Queen and Lord Nelson under the flag of Panama came and under fire and suffered significant damage while being at anchor.
Also, russian military pirates captured the ship Sapphire of the Maritime Search and Rescue Service that was carrying out a humanitarian mission.