You're reading: Foreign Ministry: Russia investigating case against Ukrainian fisherman who survived collision in Azov Sea

A criminal case has been opened in Russia against a Ukrainian fisherman who survived a collision between a Ukrainian boat with a Russian Coast Guard vessel in the Azov Sea, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has reported.

“According to our information, a criminal case was opened against
[the Ukrainian] under Article 256 of the Criminal Code of the Russian
Federation,” the ministry’s press service told Interfax-Ukraine on
Wednesday, when asked to comment on the investigation into the incident.

As for the measure of restraint as part of this criminal case,
according to the Foreign Ministry, the Ukrainian will not be taken into
custody.

The Foreign Ministry is currently working on the issue of returning the Ukrainian home for further treatment.

“According to Ukraine’s Consulate General in Rostov-on-Don, the
patient feels well, and the surgery he underwent was positive, which
gives reason to believe that there is no threat to his life or health,”
the ministry said.

The press service said that the Ukrainian is provided with this
medical care for free and that Russian doctors are taking all of the
necessary measures to ensure his speedy recovery.

As reported, a Ukrainian boat collided with a Russian Coast Guard
vessel off the Russian village of Vorontsovka in the Sea of Azov at
around 1800 on July 17. The fishing boat capsized, killing four
Ukrainian citizens. One fisherman was rescued.

The Ukrainian citizen, rescued after the incident is in a serious but
stable condition after being operated on at a hospital in Yeisk.