FSB claims magnetic mines found on ship in Ust-Luga port

The FSB claims that a ship from Belgium arrived in the Russian port of Ust-Luga, on whose hull magnetic sea mines were found.

Magnetic mines were allegedly found on the hull of the gas tanker Arrhenius, which arrived from Antwerp to the Russian port of Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region, Russian media reports.

The Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation stated that during an inspection of the ship, divers found mines manufactured “in one of the NATO countries.” Russian security forces reported that they had allegedly defused the explosive devices. The Investigative Committee also claims that the mines could not have been planted in Russian territorial waters.

The gas tanker arrived in Ust-Luga for loading on May 20, and after that was supposed to go to the port of Samsun in Turkey. During the interrogation of the ship’s agent, it became known that the ship arrived in Russia with a delay of several days.

Investigative authorities have opened a criminal case of “attempted terrorist attack” and “illegal trafficking of explosive devices.” 

Earlier, USM reported that an explosive device detonated in the port of Odesa region.