Ukrainian activists demand not to allow frigate Shtandart to enter Spain

Pro-Ukrainian activists of the public organization AGA Ucraina (Galician Association for Assistance to Ukraine ) have addressed in writing to the Maritime Captaincy of the Spanish city of Vigo with a request to “prohibit the entry, mooring and stop of the ship “Shtandart” in the port of this city and any other port on the coast of Spain, the Outon portal reports.

The arrival of the Russian historical frigate in Vigo is scheduled for July 24. There, the vessel was to take part in the Iacobus Maris Route festival.

Earlier, on July 11, the Shtandart was also denied entry into the French port of Brest following complaints from pro-Ukrainian activists. "The vessel is being effectively monitored by watercraft in the area. It [the Shtandart] is prohibited from entering the Brest harbor and Douarnenez Bay under threat of sanctions," the maritime prefecture reported at the time.

As Outon notes, since April 2022, EU ports have banned entry for ships flying the Russian flag, but the Shtandart now flies the Cook Islands flag. This was noted by pro-Ukrainian activists AGA Ucraina, who explained the change of flag as "fraud" and "an attempt to avoid sanctions."

"Shtandart" is a copy of a Russian historical frigate from the times of Peter the Great, built in 1999 by the company "Project Shtandart". "At sea festivals in European ports, "Shtandart" invariably becomes the center of everyone's attention. And its crew can expect holidays, concerts, walks along the streets of new cities, communication with like-minded people from different countries," says the description of the ship on the company's website.

As Vladimir Martus, captain of the Shtandart, told RIA Novosti, the frigate could previously move freely through the waters of France and Spain. Now the three-masted sailing ship is anchored 500 m from the French Atlantic coast without the right to enter the port. On board is a multinational crew of 17 sailors from RUSSIA, France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, the usa , England and Israel.

Russia condemns Western sanctions and considers them illegal. President Vladimir Putin has said that countries that seek to harm Russia with sanctions are harming themselves.