South Africa denies loading weapons on Russian vessel Lady R

South African authorities commented on allegations of transferring weapons to the Russian vessel Lady R

South African Defense Minister Thandi Modise told parliament last December that the Russian vessel Lady R did not take any weapons on board at the country’s naval base. In May, U.S. Ambassador Reuben Brighetti claimed that weapons and ammunition were allegedly loaded onto the ship while it was calling at the Simonstown base.

According to the minister, Lady R did not receive any weapons, on the contrary, they delivered those that South Africa had purchased earlier.

“We ordered a batch and received it,” the minister said.

She noted that the batch of weapons was ordered by the South African authorities in 2018. What kind of weapons the Russian ship brought four years later is not specified.