Kiev has argued that the ship is carrying cargo of Ukrainian grain from the Russian-occupied port of Berdyansk. An official of Ukraine’s foreign ministry told Reuters that the Zhibek Zholy was carrying 4,500 tons of grain from the port belonging to Ukraine.
In a letter dated June 30 to the Turkish Ministry of Justice, the Ukrainian prosecutor’s office alleged that the ship was involved in the “illegal export of Ukrainian grain”.
It was alleged that the grain was transported with 7,000 tons of cargo from Berdyansk to Karasu, Turkey.
The Ukrainian prosecutor has asked Turkey to “inspect this seagoing vessel, seize grain samples for forensic examination and demand information on the location of such grain”.
They added that Ukraine was ready to conduct a joint investigation with Turkey.
A pro-Russian official in the Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya region told Reuters on Thursday that the first cargo ship had left Berdyansk after a hiatus of several months.
However, the official did not specifically name the Zhibek Zholy.
Kiev has accused Moscow of stealing grain from the territories it has conquered since the Kremlin launched what it calls its “special military operation” in February.
However, Moscow has strenuously denied these allegations.
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The Zhibek Zholy reported its position at anchor near Karasu port on Friday, according to Refinitiv ship tracking data.
According to the records, it crossed the Black Sea near Crimea.
Earlier this month, Russia’s defense minister said the ports of Berdyansk and Mariupol under Russian control were ready to sum up grain stocks.
Western countries have accused Moscow of helping create a global famine by preventing Ukraine from exporting grain from its Black Sea ports.