Ukraine-Russia Tensions Flare after Naval Clash near Crimea
Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian naval ships on Sunday as they attempted to pass through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov. On Monday, Ukrainian Parliament voted to impose martial law in the border areas with Russia
IsraelDefense
| 27/11/2018
One of three Ukrainian ships after been seized (Photo: AP)
Russia has captured three Ukrainian navy vessels on Sunday after shooting at them in the Black Sea near the Crimean peninsula.
The Russian coastguard opened fire on two artillery boats and a tug belonging to Ukraine which it claimed had made an unauthorized passage through Russia’s waters. Two of the craft were damaged and six crew members injured.
The confrontation took place near the Kerch Strait, which separates the peninsula from the Russian mainland.
Russia’s FSB security service confirmed its border patrol boats had seized the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop, Russian news agencies reported.
The FSB said it had been forced to act because the ships had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions, and ignored warnings to stop while maneuvering dangerously.
Ukrainian authorities said they had given advance notice to the Russians that the vessels would be moving through the strait.
The incident prompted Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to push parliament to declare martial law after convening a meeting of his war cabinet. Later, parliament voted to approve martial law in 10 of the country's 27 regions beginning Wednesday.
NATO said it “fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters.” A spokeswoman added: “We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday slammed Russia for its “aggressive” actions.
“The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters,” Pompeo said.
[Sources: The Moscow Times, VOA, The Hill, Independent]
Russia fired on and seized three Ukrainian naval ships on Sunday as they attempted to pass through the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov. On Monday, Ukrainian Parliament voted to impose martial law in the border areas with Russia
One of three Ukrainian ships after been seized (Photo: AP)
Russia has captured three Ukrainian navy vessels on Sunday after shooting at them in the Black Sea near the Crimean peninsula.
The Russian coastguard opened fire on two artillery boats and a tug belonging to Ukraine which it claimed had made an unauthorized passage through Russia’s waters. Two of the craft were damaged and six crew members injured.
The confrontation took place near the Kerch Strait, which separates the peninsula from the Russian mainland.
Russia’s FSB security service confirmed its border patrol boats had seized the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop, Russian news agencies reported.
The FSB said it had been forced to act because the ships had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions, and ignored warnings to stop while maneuvering dangerously.
Ukrainian authorities said they had given advance notice to the Russians that the vessels would be moving through the strait.
The incident prompted Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to push parliament to declare martial law after convening a meeting of his war cabinet. Later, parliament voted to approve martial law in 10 of the country's 27 regions beginning Wednesday.
NATO said it “fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters.” A spokeswoman added: “We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in accordance with international law.”
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Monday slammed Russia for its “aggressive” actions.
“The United States condemns this aggressive Russian action. We call on Russia to return to Ukraine its vessels and detained crew members, and to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territorial waters,” Pompeo said.
[Sources: The Moscow Times, VOA, The Hill, Independent]
