Ukraine Charges Russian Navy Officers For Abusing Crew Of Captured Rescue Ship

Two officers from Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have been formally charged with abusing the crew of a Ukrainian rescue ship, Sapphire, during the early days of the full-scale war. The charges were announced by the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office on July 9, 2025.

The incident happened on February 26, 2022, just two days after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine. The Sapphire, a civilian search and rescue ship, was on a humanitarian mission to evacuate the wounded and dead from the area around Snake Island. Despite the ship being unarmed and its mission publicly declared, Russian warships intercepted it near Snake Island.

There were 17 crew members on board, along with four civilians, a medic, an electrician, and two priests. According to Ukrainian investigators, all 21 individuals were detained and subjected to inhumane conditions.

Authorities allege the detainees were denied food, water, and medical assistance, and were held in overcrowded spaces on two Russian naval ships- the reconnaissance ship Equator and the rescue tug Shakhter, which had been repurposed for military use.

Ukrainian officials allege that those detained were physically assaulted, psychologically pressured, and threatened with weapons during interrogations. After their capture, the crew and civilians were moved to Russian-occupied Crimea and later transported to Russia. They remained in illegal detention until they were released in a prisoner exchange about a month later. The Sapphire was also returned to Ukraine in the weeks following the exchange.

The commanders of both Russian vessels, the Equator and the Shakhter, are now facing formal charges under Ukrainian law. They are accused of committing war crimes, including cruel treatment of civilians and violating the rules and customs of war, as outlined in Article 438 of Ukraine’s Criminal Code.

The pre-trial investigation is being led by the police department in the Odesa region, under the direction of the Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office, with support from the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) in the region. Authorities are working to track down the suspects and take further legal action.

Although both officers are currently believed to be in Russia, Ukrainian officials say the charges are part of an effort to hold those responsible for war crimes accountable and bring global attention to the continuing aggression.

Separately, the International Criminal Court in The Hague has also issued arrest warrants for other top Russian military leaders, including Long-Range Aviation Commander Sergey Kobylash and Black Sea Fleet Commander Viktor Sokolov, for suspected war crimes related to missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure between October 2022 and March 2023.

Reference: Odesa Regional Prosecutor’s Office

Source: Maritime Shipping News