VOLGO-BALT 225

General information

Course/Position

Latest news

Crew asks to be repatriated

The Chairman of the Investigative Committee of Russia has instructed personnel to check the information about the long-term detention of the 'Volgo-Balt 225' and its eight crew members in the port of Izmail. The vessel had arrived at the Izmail shipyard in early February, before the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. The crew members from Astrakhan who were held hostage in the port of Izmail, since Feb 24, have recorded a video message asking to be repatriated. They reported that they were guarded by armed personnel with twice daily checks of their passports, the inability to pay for mobile communications or buy anything. Rubles are not accepted and their bank cards have stopped working. Due to the lack of communication with the outside world, food and drinking water are also minimal.