Russia accuses Norway of not helping in the Mediterranean

wbijamszpile.pl 6 months ago

In the Mediterranean, Russian cargo ship Ursa Major sankpart of Russia's military operations. Dmitri Medvedev, Deputy Head of the safety Council of Russia, accused Norwegian ship Oslo Carrier 3 of failing to comply with the work to rescue Russian sailors. The incidental became a origin of tension between Moscow and Norway, and the case gained an global dimension.

Mediterranean tragedy

Ursa Major's ship sank between Spain and Algeria after a series of explosions that, according to the owner of the Oboronlogistics ship, were of the nature of an “act of terrorism”. 14 of the 16 crew were able to board a lifeboat and call for help. The Spanish Emergency Service sent 2 ships and a chopper to safe the situation.

The Norwegian ship Oslo Carrier 3 was located close the scene. Dmitri Medvedev accused his crew of refusing to take Russian sailors aboard, calling this act unforgivable.

Read more: KPO measures are intended to aid neutralise threats at the bottom of the Baltic

Conflict over the course of a rescue action

The Norwegian authorities and the shipowner Oslo Carrier 3 rejected the charges. Bulkship Management AS reported that the ship's captain acted in accordance with the instructions of the Spanish Rescue Coordination Centre (MRCC), which ordered Russian sailors to be left in the lifeboat until emergency services arrived.

The lifeboat was secured by our ship. The weather conditions were good and the crew was safe – the shipowner informed in a statement.

The political echoes of the incident

Dmitri Medvedev presented the situation as part of a broader pattern of anti-Russian action by Europe. He suggested that specified cases would meet Russia's response, including the usage of hybrids.

In the light of the incidental in the Mediterranean, there are besides tensions associated with another events in global waters. Finnish authorities accused a Russian ship of damaging energy and net cables in the Baltic Sea, which increases force on Russia in relations with Europe.