Battle swimmers and corvette in La Channel

The first from the time of World War II went through the European seas

In the port of Ust-Luga (Leningrad Region) on July 6, as a result of the incident, during loading into an ammonia specialized for transporting the Eco Wizard, another diversion occurred-three explosions under the case in the area of the machine department under the bottom. Due to the leakage of liquid ammonia, the crew is evacuated. The edges of the holes 1 m x 1.5 m are bent inside, that is, the battle swimmers attached mines with special glue or magnets from the outside.

The picture of the attack is identical to all the previous cases that we wrote about. The epic of sabotage war does not end. Seven cargo civilian ships are attacked. The first Ursa Major sank before the New Year between Spain and Algeria, two Russian sailors died.

In the same way, the mines in the area of the machine department were undermined on February 14, the Seajevelna Tanker North Italy, Sea Charm at the end of January at the Turkish port Jaykhan, Grace Ferrum on the port of Tripoli, Koala on February 9 in Ust-Luga, on June 29 Vilamoura off the coast of Libya. All vessels are united by one circumstance - entering Russian ports for hydrocarbons.

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The so -called shadow fleet of tankers, taking hydrocarbons from Russian ports or taking on board on the open sea from other tankers, consists of many hundreds of giant ships. Almost all of them are in a very mediocre technical condition. But everyone has captains, a flag, a port of postscript, owner, agreements with the operator and the insurer. Russian citizens meet them extremely rarely, this is rather an incident.

An unknown author of the plan shows enviable perseverance. He makes no distinction between the official bodies of foreign states on the shadow fleet list with tankers and courts legally buying Russian oil. Legally, this is terrorism, not even piracy.

At the same time, a number of NATO countries on the Baltic coast announced the introduction of more stringent requirements for the insurance contracts of the courts following them from July 1. Germany, for example, requires insurance protection against damage from the spill of oil products. Berlin believes that a violation of this requirement gives him the right to bring the courts and owners to the sanctions lists. This is a new tool to combat the “shadow” tanker fleet, found by NATO lawyers in the wilds of marine law. Given the attempts to detain the Estonian authorities in April-May, the situation is becoming more nervous.

And since the end of spring, the European press has been observing how tankers pass through the La-Channel, accompanied by the Bulleti Baltic Corvette. This is not the most formidable ship for the Royal Navy, the Lord of the La Channel. But given the opposing ambitions and intensity, even an attempt to stop the tanker in the presence of a Russian corvette may end with an armed incident.

Formally, Russia has nothing to do with the "shadow" fleet. Russian possession through the chain of intermediaries must be proved, and it is not always there at all.

But the “lively” is a message for NATO: the freedom of shipping is supported by the contracts and the status of the Baltic Strait, any ship should reach the Russian port and go to the ocean.

At the same time, the La-Channel is defined as the last dangerous section of the route of this flotilla. On average, 15 tankers from Russian oil ports pass through this famous strait a day.

And the escalation has reached specialized carriers of dangerous chemicals. And they blew up the next - under the flag of the Eco Wizard Marshall Islands - it is in the Russian port. In the situational center of the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation, an operational meeting was held at this incident under the chairmanship of the then Minister of Transport of Roman Starovoit.

According to data known for this moment, during the meeting, the minister was paradoxically dead for at least a few hours. According to law enforcement agencies, he committed suicide. Nevertheless, according to the "instruction of Starovoit":

“The emergency services of the terminal are currently engaged in the liquidation of the consequences of the incident. The forces and funds of the Baltic branch of the FSBI "Morspasselzhba" are fully readiness for emergency rescue operations. The crew in the amount of 23 people is evacuated and located in the port, there are no injured. Further loading was quickly stopped. ”

The price of liquid ammonia is usually similar to oil price. But its spill in the port is fraught with serious consequences, poisoning of the water area and surrounding territories. Not a civilian ministry should deal with thoughtful acts of sabotage. This is the field of military intelligence and counterintelligence.

Inspection of ships included in the port for mining can only be carried out in interaction with naval specialists. And the capture of unknown combat swimmers with red -handed in foreign seas depends on the highest qualification of military intelligence. Such results can only be obtained by a carefully thought -out operation.

For six months, we have been observing this qualification. The enemy of Russian intelligence officers, obviously, will not calm down. He has no doubt about the use of the most dangerous, on the verge of an environmental disaster, methods of struggle: a million barrels of oil attacked ten days ago Vilamoura. I am sure that at least he receives comprehensive information on the movement of ships and competent consultation. The epic will be continued.