The Odesa regional prosecutor’s office has detailed a military crime involving the Russian Navy’s seizure of the Ukrainian rescue vessel “Sapphire” near Snake Island during the early days of the invasion.
Charges have been filed in court against three officers of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, including the fleet’s first deputy commander, the captain of the reconnaissance ship “Equator,” and the captain of the rescue tugboat “Shakhtar.” They are accused of committing a war crime by unlawfully detaining civilians in conspiracy.
According to the investigation, on February 26, 2022, Russian military personnel captured the Ukrainian search and rescue vessel “Sapphire” while it was conducting a humanitarian mission, which was not of a military nature.
At the time of the seizure, there were 21 individuals on board, comprising 17 crew members and four civilians, including a medic and clergy members, all of whom were unlawfully detained.
Following the capture, a senior Russian naval officer interrogated the captain, seeking to establish any connections between the crew and Ukrainian military or intelligence services, despite being aware of the vessel’s humanitarian status.
The detainees faced restrictions on their movement, underwent interrogations and searches accompanied by threats and displays of weaponry. Subsequently, the vessel was towed to temporarily occupied Crimea, and the crew was taken to Russian territory. They were released between March and May 2022 as part of a prisoner exchange.
The military officer who ordered the seizure of “Sapphire” was later promoted to commander of the Russian Black Sea Fleet.
The Odesa prosecutor's office has charged three Russian Navy officers with war crimes related to the unlawful seizure of the Ukrainian rescue vessel "Sapphire" in February 2022. The incident involved the detention of 21 civilians during a humanitarian mission.