Israeli cargo vessel breaches Russian blockade in Black Sea

A cargo ship sailing under the Israeli flag has defied Russia’s supposed blockade of Ukrainian ports, becoming the first ship the enter the Ukrainian branch of the Danube since July 25,

Citing transponder data, Ukrainian news outlet Militarnyi writes that on the night of July 30, three civilian vessels – Ams1, Sahin 2, and Yilmaz Kaptan (from Israel, Greece, and Türkiye/Georgia, respectively) –entered the Black Sea, openly broadcasting Ukraine as their destinations

On July 31, Ams1 became the first ship to breach the blockade of the Black Sea after the Russian bombing of the Ukrainian Danube port in Reni on July 25, The New Voice of Ukraine reports.

"Starting its journey from Ashdod, Israel, it openly advertised its destination as Ukraine and crossed the Black Sea on a direct course," the report said.

Four more ships are following Ams1 and will anchor in the Danube. According to Militarnyi, their passage is monitored by a US maritime reconnaissance aircraft P8, which is being refuelled in flight above Romania.

After exiting the Black Sea Grain Initiative (BSGI) on July 17, Russia has said that it will regard any vessels bound for Ukrainian ports as carriers of military cargo, suggesting an attempt to effectively blockade Kyiv from access to maritime trade routes.