Russian navy ship sinks near Turkey's Bosphorus

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region (Kurdistan24) – A Russian navy ship on Thursday sank in the Black Sea near Turkey’s Bosphorus after colliding with a vessel carrying livestock.

Turkish search and rescue teams were dispatched to the area some 18 nautical miles off the northern Kilyos coast of Istanbul Province.

Initial reports by the Turkish state TV TRT said there were at least 15 Russian soldiers missing, but later announced the rescue of all 78 crew members, including soldiers.

The cargo vessel that collided with the Russian reconnaissance ship, identified as Liman, was Togo-flagged Youzarsif H, according to the TRT.

Turkish coast guards said fog and low visibility in the Southwest Black Sea caused the accident.

The Liman sank around 2:48 p.m. Istanbul time.

Russian crew members and soldiers jumped off the ship into the sea before the ship sank.

The Youzarsif H, which was on its way from Romania to Jordan’s Port of Aqaba in the Red Sea, survived the crash with little damage and rescued 15 Russians.

Minister of Transportation Ahmet Arslan said Turkey would send the rescued personnel to Russia via its navy ships.

The Togo-flagged livestock carrier was built in 1977 and has a capacity of 2,418 tons, reported Reuters.

Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim sent his condolences to his Russian counterpart Dmitry Medvedev over the accident.

Russian Navy ships often use the 17-mile waterway Bosphorus to go to Moscow’s naval base in the Syrian city of Tartous on the Mediterranean Sea.

Editing by Karzan Sulaivany