MOSCOW, April 28. /TASS/. The Ukrainian authorities’ order to ban cargo transit and shipment across Ukraine by vessels flying the Russian flag creates real risks of ‘pirate’ seizures of these vessels by Ukraine’s law enforcers, Russia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Saturday.

"Owing to provocations by the Ukrainian authorities against Russian vessels and citizens, Russia’s Foreign Ministry is drawing the attention of shipping companies to the real risks of the pirate seizures of Russian transport means by the Ukrainian law enforcers," the ministry’s press office said.

The number of instances of the illegal detention of Russian vessels by the Ukrainian authorities has increased lately, the ministry said.

Two weeks after the Russian fishing vessel Nord was illegally detained by the Ukrainian border guard service in the Sea of Azov on March 25 and its crew was unlawfully held in custody, the ship Trans Services Maritime was also seized, the ministry said.

Besides, on April 25, 2018, the Ukrainian government backed the initiative of the Infrastructure Ministry and made the corresponding decision on banning the transit and shipment of cargoes across Ukraine by vessels flying the Russian flag, and also by any other floating craft regardless of the flag’s country, which made calls at the sea ports of Crimea and Sevastopol.