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At the same time, some Russian vessels, whose owners are not currently under sanctions, continue to check in Ukrainian ports.
Several Russian shipowners suspended cargo transportation to Ukraine after Ukrainian authorities seized the "Mechanic Pogodin" tanker in Kherson after they found out the ship's owner is on the Ukrainian sanctions list.
According to the navigation tracking system, some Russian vessels, whose owners are not currently under sanctions, still check in Ukrainian ports, Reuters reports citing sources in the industry.
At the same time, sources say that a number of Russian shipowners, even those who have not been sanctioned, are now suspending cargo transportation to Ukraine due to fears of losing their cargo.
It is noted that during the summer river navigation, vessels under the Russian flag usually petroleum oil products from Turkmenistan, across the Sea of Azov to the Ukrainian ports of Odesa, Kherson, and Mykolayiv.
Russian ships also transport sunflower oil exported from Ukraine. These operations were also suspended, the sources say.
"No one wants their ship to be stuck (in the waters of Ukraine) with paid cargo," a source in the Russian shipping company said.
In May 2018, the Ukrainian side included more than 700 companies, mostly Russian, in its sanctions list. The organizations listed therein, including banks, transport, media and defense companies, are prohibited from engaging in trade in Ukraine, while their assets in Ukraine are blocked. Because of the sanctions, many Russian companies have already had to close down their Ukraine activities.
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As reported earlier, on August 10 in the port of Kherson, law enforcers seized a Russian vessel, "Mechanic Pogodin," which is related to a sanctioned company.
Russia claimed that Ukraine was forcibly keeping the vessel's crew, although Ukrainian authorities said no charges had been pressed against Russian seamen.