Thread by @auonsson

During night 3 civilian ships seem to have successfully challenged Russian threats to Black Sea navigation.

Ams1, Sahin 2 & Yilmaz Kaptan sailed direct routes, openly advertising destination Ukraine over AIS.

Their origins: Israel, Greece and Turkey/Georgia.

The origins are interesting in that they are all potential sources of weapons.
Yet, these ships seems to navigate freely over Black Sea, in contempt of the alleged threat that Russia will treat any ship, civilian or not, heading for Ukraine as potential targets.

Usual AIS-caveats apply. AIS-data is possible to manipulate. Further, there might be more ships that I have not found. I will try to find more during day. If anyone cares to, it might be possible to corroborate tracks on Sentinel-passes, strengthening this case. @MT_Anderson ?

AIS-tracks corroborated. Positions broadcasted matches with sat pics.

Ams1 can be found on a Sentinel1 pass north of Bosporus.
Yilmaz Kaptan is seen on both S1 and S2 passes in anchorage outside Sinop, Turkey.
Sahin 2 is caught by S1 in Istanbul anchorage.

Screenshots below

Ams1 north of Bosporus 230729 04:15U Sentinel 1

Yilmaz Kaptan, Sinop anchorage, Turkey. 230727 08:36U Sentinel 2 and 15:36U Sentinel 1

Sahin 2, Istanbul anchorage, Turkey. 230729 04:15U Sentinel 1

High military aviation activity on Black Sea coast. High for a Sunday, including AWACS.

https://twitter.com/IntercityFC/status/1685573140246614016?s=20

Ams1 changed her AIS-destination for Romania a few hours before arriving to the Danube anchorage. She broadcasted Ukraine the 4 days before that. Yilmaz Kaptan, similar.

Looking at other traffic inbound today for Ukraine ports we have Tanzania-flagged Sofilarex and Ukraine-flagged Orel 3 and Orel 5. They have all hugged the coast, staying inside NATO territorial waters on their way to Ukraine (Orel 3 maybe Bulgaria?)

There are numerous other vessels inbound for Ukraine ports. They use various methods to mitigate the Russian threat and I will respect these mariners wishes to stay hidden.

Once safe in port I will try and show without endangering them, it is a testament to the ongoing crimes.

Cute! One little Ukraine-bound ship has a very sharp-eyed eagle looking out for them.

But, Yilmaz Kaptan seems to have started broadcasting another name??? She now shows up as ”Kudret Gezer” on all AIS-services I use. Strange, will follow.