The crew of the ship “Sapphire” was taken prisoner: Russian Navy officers were informed of the suspicion
9.07.2025 - 15:41
Two officers of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were reported on suspicion of ill-treatment of the civilian crew of the ship “Sapfir”
This is reported by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office.
These are the commander of the reconnaissance ship “Equator” and the captain of the rescue and towing ship “Shakhter” of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
According to the investigation, on February 26, 2022, the Ukrainian search and rescue ship “Sapphire” was carrying out a humanitarian mission to evacuate the wounded and dead from the area of Zmiinyi Island. Despite the officially declared purpose and the lack of weapons, the ship was stopped by military ships of the aggressor state.
On board the ship “Sapfir” were 17 crew members and 4 more civilians – a doctor, an electrician and two clergymen. All of them were detained and illegally deprived of their liberty.
The suspects organized the detention of civilians on board a reconnaissance ship and a rescue and towing vessel, which, despite its civilian status, was actually used for military purposes.
“The detainees were held in inhumane conditions: without proper access to water, food and medical care, in cramped quarters, under psychological and physical pressure. During interrogations, they were subjected to physical violence, intimidated with weapons, and threatened with life and health,” the report says.
Subsequently, the vessel and its crew were transferred to the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, and later to Russia, where the people continued to be illegally detained until their release as part of an exchange.
It should be noted that two officers were reported on suspicion of cruel treatment of the civilian population and other violations of the laws and customs of war (Part 2 of Article 28, Part 1 of Article 438 of the Criminal Code of Ukraine).
Recall that the rescue ship “Sapfir” returned to the Ukrainian port a month after its capture – on April 11, 2022.
