The general cargoship arrived at the occupied Sea of Azov port on December 20 after a trip to Crimea
Operations at the port of Mariupol are thought to have started at the end of May, but this is the first journey that can be confirmed with AIS data
On December 20, a Russian vessel made its first traceable call to the port of Mariupol since Russia’s invasion of the region. The general cargoship arrived at the occupied port in the Sea of Azov after a trip to Crimea.
This marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict in the region, as operations at the port of Mariupol were thought to have only begun at the end of May. The arrival of the Russian vessel, however, marks the first confirmed journey to the port using AIS (Automatic Identification System) data.
The use of the port by Russian ships has been a source of tension between Russia and Ukraine, with Ukraine accusing Russia of illegally annexing the region and disrupting shipping in the area. The arrival of this vessel will likely heighten these tensions further.
It is unclear at this time what the vessel was transporting or what its ultimate destination was. However, its arrival at the port of Mariupol is sure to be closely monitored by both Ukraine and the international community.
