AMS1 (Sierra Leone-flagged general cargo ship) has cleared the Bosporus and is now headed north through the southern Black Sea. Vessel is set to dock in the Ukrainian port of Izmail. Vessel set sail from Israel and may be carrying weapons for Ukraine.
If this vessel attempts to run the Russian naval blockade, things could get VERY dicey . . . VERY fast.
The vessel is flagged Sierra Leone, but is OWNED by Turkeye. Turkeye is a member of NATO.
This has "set-up" written all over it.
Developing . . . .
UPDATE 1:42 PM EDT --
The vessel's route is completely transparent. It makes no effort to hug the coast or conceal it's location or destination. This appears to be a direct challenge to the Sovereign power of Russia.
Russia has made it explicitly clear "Russian navy considers any ship destined for Ukraine a potential target."
UPDATE 1:57 PM EDT --
In order to get to Izmail, Ukraine, the vessel MUST enter the Danube River, which __is__ the border between Romania and Ukraine. Romania is also a member of NATO. The vessel __may__ try to enter Romanian territorial waters in the Black Sea so as to be under the protection of the Romanian government and its Navy, right up to the mouth of the Danube.
Here's where things get tricky. If the vessel strays from the Romanian side of the Danube, Russia may hit it. If Russia hits it in Romanian waters, then THAT is "an attack upon . . . NATO."
If Russia moves to intercept the vessel in the Black Sea, then the whole "freedom of navigation in International waters" kicks-in.
If Russia allows the ship to dock at Izmail, Ukraine, then smashes Izmail --- or blasts Ismail before the ship arrives, problem solved for Russia.
