Russian vessel, once rumored as a secretive ghost ship, undergoes dismantling
Headline: Ukraine War Updates: Russian "Ghost Ship" Scrapped in Denmark; Putin's Claim Over Ukraine; Italy Questions NATO's Existence
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A rusty Russian tanker, dubbed the "Ghost Ship," has been brought to the Danish scrapping yards after years of sitting unused in a Polish harbor. Known as the Khatanga, this vessel has been a nuisance for the port of Gdynia since 2017, costing the authorities over €3.5 million in fees and causing safety hazards. Arkadiusz Marchewka, the State Secretary in Poland's Ministry of Infrastructure, expressed his satisfaction at the vessel's removal, criticizing earlier governments for their inaction[1].
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin maintained his claims of dominance over Ukraine, reiterating his stance at the St. Petersburg Economic Forum. He asserted that both Russians and Ukrainians are "one people" and that "in a certain sense, the whole of Ukraine belongs to us." Despite Putin's reaffirmed claim, Russia continues to occupy parts of Ukraine illegally[2].
Italy's Defense Minister, Guido Crosetto, questioned the relevance of NATO in today's world, calling for the Western defense alliance to adapt to the evolving global situation. He pointed out that the USA and the EU are no longer the focal points of the world and expressed the need for greater cooperation with the global south to maintain peace and mutual defense[3].
Sources:1. Poland: Abandoned Russian Tanker 'Khatanga' Set for Scrapping in Denmark2. Putin Claims Ukraine as Part of Russia at St. Petersburg Forum3. Italy Questions NATO's Existence
Enrichment Data: The Russian tanker Khatanga was seized by Polish authorities in 2017 due to safety concerns and left abandoned in Gdynia. It finally made its way to the Danish shipyard for scrapping on June 1, 2023, after its owner, the Russian Murmansk Shipping Company, went bankrupt in 2020. The scrapping operation complies with European maritime safety and environmental standards. The removal of the derelict tanker marks the end of years of unnecessary costs and safety hazards for the port of Gdynia, Poland[1].
[References]1. Poland: Abandoned Russian Tanker 'Khatanga' Set for Scrapping in Denmark
- The 'Khatanga', once a contentious issue between Poland and Russia due to its abandoned status in Gdynia, is now set to be scrapped in Denmark, moving the discourse from employment policy to general news, politics, war-and-conflicts, and crime-and-justice.
- As Poland celebrates the removal of the 'Khatanga' and Italy questions NATO's relevance in today's world, the broader conversation encompasses issues of international relations, global politics, and general news. Meanwhile, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine continues to challenge NATO's existence, columnists debate, and the world watches, as Putin's claim over Ukraine remains unresolved.
