Aid cargo ship returns from Syria with heavy weapons

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War material weighing tons is destroyed every day in the war in Ukraine. Russia, in particular, is expected to suffer heavy losses – not least because of the precise weapons that Western Ukraine is constantly supplying.

Now Russia would like to bring new military equipment to Ukraine before the war. This is reported by Marine News. Accordingly, the Russian freighter Sparta IV was loaded in Syria with new war material. The cargo ship is said to have entered the Mediterranean Sea accompanied by ships of the Russian Navy.

Turkey allows cargo ships to pass

According to Russian information, the cargo ship was on a humanitarian mission several weeks earlier. After the devastating earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, he is said to have provided aid to Syria. A short time later, the same ship is now transporting war material to Ukraine.

Turkey has blocked the waterway between the Mediterranean and the Black Sea for Russian warships. The Sparta IV has now surfaced in the Black Sea. Turkey apparently continues to let cargo ships with war material through. Photos show the cargo ship passing the Bosphorus in Istanbul in the dark of night.

The Bosphorus belongs to Turkish territory and was closed to Russian warships by Turkey, which is part of NATO, after the outbreak of war. Meanwhile, Russia would use cargo ships to bring war materials to Ukraine instead.

Shipping company sanctioned by the US

According to information from Naval News, the ship will be unloaded at the port of Novorossiysk in Russia. From there, the military equipment is transported to the front.

Cargo ship Sparta IV is one of four ships owned by the Russian shipping company SC South LLC. This would have been responsible for the transport of war material since the outbreak of the war. Shortly after the invasion, the US government therefore placed the company on the so-called list of Specially Designated Nationals. This is an American sanctions list that also includes dictators and drug dealers.

Rockets are transported in the same way

The Sparta IV would not be the first Russian freighter to cross the blockaded Bosphorus from Tartus in Syria and bring war equipment to Novorossiysk. As early as August 2022, a cargo ship is said to have brought Russian S-300 anti-aircraft missiles to the same destination on the same route.

It is unclear what kind of military equipment was on board the Sparta IV. However, it must have been heavy equipment, as cargo ships are usually not escorted by the Navy. (obf)

Source: Blick