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Uh oh. Watch this space. Ukraine's security service & military prosecutor's office say they've detained Russian ship NEYMA in Izmail. This is the ship that blocked Kerch Strait entrance during last year's incident in which Russia attacked Ukrainian navy vessels, arrested sailors. 
This detention comes just as negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv over the release of the 24 Ukrainian sailors captured by Russia last year was gaining momentum. The move has the potential to escalate the already tense situation between the countries.
Ukraine's security service tells me they have no info or cannot provide info on sailors aboard the Russia ship detained in Ukrainian port today. Originally called NEYMA, it changed its name to NIKA SPIRIT to try to avoid attention.
Russia's Foreign Ministry responds. It says it's investigating the incident. “If we are talking about taking Russians hostage, this would be qualified as a flagrant violation of international law and the consequences will come quickly." vedomosti.ru/politics/news/…
Security Service of Ukraine has published video showing its detention of Russian tanker NEYMA.
More on the Russian tanker detained by Ukraine: rferl.org/a/ukrainian-au…
Story is being updated. In the meantime, A source told the Russian @interfax_news agency that the crew aboard the detained tanker is comprised of approximately 15 Russian citizens. interfax.ru/world/670439
Office of Ukrainian President Zelenskiy says they have no comment on the Russian ship detention for the time being.
Big Q today is whether Zelenskiy ordered Russian ship seizure. Some of my sources say no. And seems SBU & Military Prosecutor's Office could act on own, b/c Poroshenko signed decree on March 19 that sanctioned owner of the ship for 3 yrs, allowed for seizure of company property.
Interesting. Crew members of a Russian tanker detained in Ukraine are being released and going home to Russia. But the ship will stay in the Ukrainian port of Izmail, Interfax reports, citing the press attaché of the Russian Embassy in Kyiv. That should turn the temp down a bit.
