A UKRAINIAN court has ordered the seizure of a Russian tanker stopped last week over its alleged involvement in a Ukrainian-Russian naval clash last year, the country’s chief military prosecutor said Tuesday.

A court, in the southern city of Odessa, ordered the seizure of the tanker Nika Spirit on Monday, according to documents posted by Anatoliy Matios on social media.

The Russian owner of the seized tanker, the Altomar Shipping company, told Russian news agency Interfax that its management was “in contact with Ukrainian authorities” to solve a “range of issues related to the vessel.”

Ukraine’s SBU security service said last week it had stopped the Russian tanker, previously known as the Neyma, when it entered the port of Izmail in the southern Odessa region.

Investigators seized documents on board and questioned its 10 crew members.

Moscow responded by threatening Kiev with unspecified “consequences,” although it later confirmed the 10 crew members had been released and allowed to return to Russia. However, Kiev kept the tanker.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin told Kommersant FM radio station Tuesday that the boat was under private ownership and the matter should be dealt with by the courts. “We, of course, will follow this closely,” he said.

In November, Russia opened fire on three Ukrainian navy vessels as they tried to pass through the Kerch Strait from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov. Ukraine says the Russian tanker was used in that confrontation.

(SD-Agencies)