The Livyisk Coastal Guard Fired on a Rescue Ship

• The Livyisk coastal guard surrounded the ship during a rescue operation.
• SOS Mediterranee has called for an investigation into the incident.
• The Ocean Viking ship transported 87 rescued migrants to Italy.

KYIV — The humanitarian organization SOS Mediterranee reported that the Livyisk coastal guard fired on its ship during the search for migrants in the Mediterranean Sea.

This organization detailed the incident on Monday. It indicated that the Livyisk coastal guard fired at the ship for about 20 minutes in international waters last week, approximately 40 nautical miles north of the Livyisk coast.

There were no casualties, although the organization noted that the ship sustained significant damage.

This attack has become one of the most notorious incidents of violence involving the European rescue ship and the Livyisk coastal guard, which receives training, equipment, and funding from the European Union.

A representative of the coastal guard did not respond to a request for comment.

The SOS Mediterranee organization operates the Ocean Viking ship under the Norwegian flag in partnership with the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent.

The Ocean Viking arrived in Italy on Monday with 87 migrants, who were rescued from other boats before the attack.

The director of operations for SOS Mediterranee, Soazig Dupuy, called for a thorough investigation of the events that occurred last week, and for the accountability of those responsible for these attacks that threaten lives.

Tags: Middle East/Politics