Civil Vessels Cross Black Sea Under Nato Watch Amid Russia’s Blockade, Ukraine Attacks Patrol Boats

On July 30, an Israeli merchant ship named Ams1 entered the Ukrainian branch of the Danube, defying Russia's blockade of the Black Sea. It openly declared its destination as Ukraine and safely crossed the Black Sea with the help of American anti-ship patrol aircraft. At least five more vessels, including ones from Greece and Turkey-Georgia, set their course for Ukraine through the Bosporus Strait. NATO closely monitored these civilian vessels as they sailed toward the Ukrainian port of Izmail, with some reports suggesting that Russia may be unwilling or unable to enforce its blockade. In recent incidents, Russia turned away two ships originating from Turkey and forced them to leave its territorial waters stating it had found traces of explosives on the vessels.