Court to consider case of search and rescue vessel “Sapfir”: Russian military among defendants

The Prosecutor’s Office has referred to court the case of the ship “Sapfir“, in which the accused officials from the Russian Federation are charged with committing war crimes in conspiracy.

This was reported by the press service of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office.

The Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office has referred to court an indictment against the former Chief of Staff – First Deputy Commander of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy, commander of the reconnaissance ship “Equator”, captain of the rescue and towing ship “Shakhter” of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Navy.

Three servicemen of the enemy fleet are charged with committing war crimes in prior conspiracy by a group of persons (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).

The prosecutor’s office recalled that on February 26, 2022, the Russian military illegally deprived the crew of the search and rescue vessel “Sapphire”, which was carrying out a humanitarian mission near Zmiinyi Island.

This vessel belongs to the Maritime Search and Rescue Service of Ukraine and was used exclusively for humanitarian tasks. There were only civilians on board: 17 crew members, 4 involved civilians (including a doctor, clergy).

According to the investigation, after the capture of the “Sapfir”, the vice admiral personally arrived on the temporarily occupied Zmiinyi Island. He interrogated the captain of the vessel, clarifying possible cooperation with the Ukrainian military and the SBU. He was aware of the humanitarian nature of the mission, but did not cancel the illegal detention of the civilian crew.

“The crew members were restricted in their movement, interrogated, searched, threatened, and showed weapons. The ship was forcibly moved to the temporarily occupied Crimea, the people were taken to Russia. Only in March-May 2022 were they able to be released as part of an exchange. Subsequently, the military-political leadership of the aggressor state promoted the military officer who ordered the detention of the “Sapfir” to the rank of Commander of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation Admiral,” the prosecutor’s office said.

It should be noted that the case will be considered in the order of special judicial proceedings.

Recall that the rescue ship “Sapfir” returned to the Ukrainian port a month after the seizure — on April 11, 2022.