Now the ship is being towed to the roadstead of the Romanian port of Sulina.

The ship “Sapphire” returned under the control of Ukraine / photo t.me/miUkraune/679

Rescue ship “Sapphire” returned under the control of Ukraine. Russian invaders seized it on February 26 while on a humanitarian mission in the area of ​​Zmeiny Island .

The Ministry of Infrastructure noted that on April 8, the Sapphire search and rescue vessel finally returned to Ukrainian control.

Now the ship is being towed to the roadstead of the Romanian port of Sulina. This is the result of the joint efforts of the top leadership of our country, the Ministry of Infrastructure, KP “MPRS” and the International Maritime Organization.

The vessel was towed from the place of transfer to the territorial waters of Ukraine by the tug “Avant” under the flag of Ukraine.

All 19 crew members of the rescue ship were released from Russian captivity on March 25, as part of the first prisoner exchange.

Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak said that the President of Ukraine, the entire team of the Office, the Ministry of Infrastructure and the International Maritime Organization (IMO) worked on the return of the Sapphire. 

“Ukraine always returns its own and its own. This applies to both people and property, as well as territories. We will not leave Russia any chances,” Yermak wrote.

(C)UNIAN 2022