Following SSU and National Police investigation, russian admiral who gave order to seize Ukrainian rescue ship 'Sapfir' declared suspect in absentia
Security Service of Ukraine
15:45, 8 August 2025
The Security Service and the National Police have collected evidence against russian admiral Sergei Pinchuk, commander of the russian Black Sea fleet.
The investigation established that on 26 February 2022, on his orders, the occupiers seized the Ukrainian search and rescue vessel Sapfir, which was on a humanitarian mission in the area of Zmiinyi Island.
On that day, russian forces illegally stopped and blocked the civilian ship off the coast of the Ukrainian island.
After that, the occupiers boarded the ship and, threatening with automatic weapons, imprisoned all 19 crew members, as well as a priest and a doctor who were on board.
Some of these people were transferred to a russian navy tugboat, while the rest were held on the island, temporarily seized at the time.
The ruscists subjected all the prisoners to psychological pressure and threatened them with physical violence, including simulating 'executions' of the victims.
During this torture, Pinchuk personally arrived at Zmiinyi, where he participated in the interrogation of the Sapfir's captain, and subsequently ordered the victims to be transported together with the rescue vessel to Crimea and then to russia.
Based on the evidence, Pinchuk was notified in absentia of suspicion under Articles 28.2 and 438.1 of the CCU (war crimes, committed by a group, upon prior conspiracy).
The investigation was conducted by the SSU Odesa Office in cooperation with the National Police under the procedural supervision of the regional Prosecutor's Office.
We remind you that in July this year, following the SSU's investigation, two officers of the russian Black Sea fleet who participated in the seizure of the Sapfir were declared suspects in absentia.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
