Russian spy ship sinks near Turkey

A Russian naval intelligence ship sank off Turkey’s Black Sea coast today after colliding with a vessel carrying livestock, all 78 personnel on board the navy ship were evacuated, Turkish officials said.

The rescued crew members of the Russian ship Liman were in good health after the collision with the Togo-flagged Youzarsif H, Turkey’s Transport Minister Ahmed Arslan said.

The incident took place in fog and low visibility 29 kilometres from Kilyos village on the Black Sea coast just north of Istanbul.

Turkish authorities dispatched a tugboat and three fast rescue vessels, the coastal safety authority said.

Advisers to Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim conveyed his sadness over the incident to Russian counterparts, according to sources in his office.

“We don’t know our losses yet, but thank God there is no loss of life – neither from our side nor from the other ship,” he said, adding the livestock carrier was heading to Jordan’s Red Sea port of Aqaba from Romania.