MOSCOW. July 21 (Interfax) - Russia will view all vessels in the Black Sea as carriers of military cargo, but it will inspect ships before taking any measures, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said.
"This means we should make sure that a vessel is carrying something bad, and this means an inquiry and an examination if necessary, to determine whether this is the case or not," Vershinin said at a press briefing in Moscow on Friday.
"This is entirely logical, especially in light of the acts of terrorism that have happened," Vershinin said.
"There is no maritime humanitarian corridor anymore, but there is a zone of increased military danger," he said.
"Apart from measures involving the use of force, there are measures that everyone is supposed to take and understand, because it concerns the insurance and reinsurance of vessels that can operate in that area," he said.
"In fact, this is a financial and economic decision," he said.
The Russian Defense Ministry said on July 19 that "all vessels heading to Ukrainian ports in Black Sea waters will be regarded as potentially carrying military cargoes from 0:01 a.m. Moscow time on July 20, 2023 due to the termination of the Black Sea Initiative and elimination of the maritime humanitarian corridor".
"Consequently, the countries whose flags such vessels are carrying will be regarded as ones involved in the Ukrainian conflict on the side of Kiev regime," the ministry said.
"A number of areas in northwestern and southeastern parts of Black Sea international waters were declared temporarily dangerous for navigation. Information alerts regarding the recall of security guarantees for navigation have been issued in the established procedure," it said.
The Ukrainian Defense Ministry said on July 20 that, starting July 21, it would view vessels heading toward Russian seaports in the Black Sea as carriers of military cargo, "with all the ensuing risks."