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Russian special forces 'seize Ukrainian vessels' in Black Sea clash Russia fires on and seizes Ukrainian vessels in Black Sea clash
(35 minutes later)
The Ukrainian navy has accused Russia of opening fire on its ships in the Black Sea, injuring six crew members, and said Russian special forces have seized three of its vessels. Russian forces have shot at and seized three Ukrainian navy vessels in the Black Sea, injuring six crew members according to Kiev, in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries.
The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, has called an emergency meeting of his war cabinet in response to the incident. The Ukrainian president, Petro Poroshenko, has called an emergency meeting of his war cabinet and requested an emergency UN security council meeting in response to the incident.
The FSB, Russia’s principal security agency, said there was “irrefutable evidence that Kiev prepared and orchestrated provocations” – adding that more information about the incident would be made public. The FSB, Russia’s principal security agency, said its patrol boats had seized three naval vessels from Ukraine in the Black Sea near Crimea on Sunday and used weapons to make them stop, adding that the boats had entered its territorial waters illegally.
Sunday was a day of rising tensions between the two countries, with hostilities centering on the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea. Sunday was a day of rising tensions between the two countries, with hostilities focusing on the Kerch Strait, which connects the Sea of Azov with the Black Sea.
Earlier, Russia prevented three Ukrainian navy vessels from passing beneath a Russian-controlled bridge in the Kerch Strait by blocking their way with a cargo ship. Two artillery ships and a tug boat were subsequently fired on and seized, injuring six sailors, according to the Ukrainian navy. Earlier, Russia had prevented three Ukrainian navy vessels from passing beneath a Russian-controlled bridge in the Kerch Strait by blocking their way with a cargo ship. Two artillery ships and a tug boat were subsequently fired on and seized, injuring six sailors, according to the Ukrainian navy. According to the FSB, three Ukrainian sailors had been wounded, none of whom were in a life-threatening condition.
In earlier reports, the Ukrainian navy said Russia’s border guards rammed one of its tugboats in the Black Sea off Crimea in an “openly aggressive action” in a statement on their Facebook page. Russia has claimed the waters off Crimea after annexing the peninsula in 2014.
Ukraine said the incident took place as three of its ships, including two small warships, were heading for the port of Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, an area of heightened tensions between the countries.
Russia accused Kiev of illegally entering its waters and deliberately provoking a conflict. It has claimed the waters off Crimea after annexing the peninsula in 2014.
Ukraine’s navy said a Russian border guard ship, the Don, damaged the engine, outer shell and guardrail of one of its tugboats.
Russia’s FSB security service, which oversees the border guard service, said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies that the Ukrainian ships “illegally entered a temporarily closed area of Russian territorial waters”. It said Ukraine’s ships were carrying out “provocative actions” and “their aim is clear – to create a conflict situation in this region”.Russia’s FSB security service, which oversees the border guard service, said in a statement quoted by Russian news agencies that the Ukrainian ships “illegally entered a temporarily closed area of Russian territorial waters”. It said Ukraine’s ships were carrying out “provocative actions” and “their aim is clear – to create a conflict situation in this region”.
However, Ukraine said it gave Russia advance warning of its ships’ route. Its ships are obliged to pass through the strait to reach the Sea of Azov.However, Ukraine said it gave Russia advance warning of its ships’ route. Its ships are obliged to pass through the strait to reach the Sea of Azov.
Maja Kocijančič, the EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security, urged both sides to show restraint and”de-escalate the situation immediately”. Maja Kocijančič, the EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security, urged both sides to show restraint and “de-escalate the situation immediately”.
She said: “The tensions in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait have increased dangerously today, after an incident this morning between Russian and Ukrainian naval vessels as the latter were attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait as well as subsequent developments, including the closure of the strait for traffic by Russian authorities and reported seizures of Ukrainian vessels and shots being fired at them.“We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch Strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately. She said: “The tensions in the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait have increased dangerously today, after an incident this morning between Russian and Ukrainian naval vessels as the latter were attempting to pass through the Kerch Strait as well as subsequent developments, including the closure of the strait for traffic by Russian authorities and reported seizures of Ukrainian vessels and shots being fired at them. We expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch Strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately.
“The EU does not and will not recognise the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia.”“The EU does not and will not recognise the illegal annexation of the Crimean peninsula by Russia.”
Donald Trump has not responded to the incident, but the US president posted on Twitter as reports of the incident emerged that the EU had failed to live up to its commitment to Nato and Europe should “pay their fair share for military protection”.Donald Trump has not responded to the incident, but the US president posted on Twitter as reports of the incident emerged that the EU had failed to live up to its commitment to Nato and Europe should “pay their fair share for military protection”.
Europe has to pay their fair share for Military Protection. The European Union, for many years, has taken advantage of us on Trade, and then they don’t live up to their Military commitment through NATO. Things must change fast!Europe has to pay their fair share for Military Protection. The European Union, for many years, has taken advantage of us on Trade, and then they don’t live up to their Military commitment through NATO. Things must change fast!
Nato called on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea in accordance with international law, calling for calm on both sides.Nato called on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea in accordance with international law, calling for calm on both sides.
Its spokesperson Oana Lungescu said: “Nato is closely monitoring developments in the Azov Sea and the Kerch strait, and we are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. We call for restraint and de-escalation.” Its spokesperson Oana Lungescu said: “Nato is closely monitoring developments in the Azov Sea and the Kerch Strait, and we are in contact with the Ukrainian authorities. We call for restraint and de-escalation.”
A correspondent for Rossiya-24, a Russian state-controlled TV channel, reporting from the area of the Kerch Strait bridge said that Russia’s tactic with the cargo ship had completely blocked the bridge and that Russian military aircraft were circling overhead. A correspondent for Rossiya-24, a Russian state-controlled TV channel, reporting from the area of the Kerch Strait bridge said that Russia’s tactic with the cargo ship had completely blocked passage under the bridge and that Russian military aircraft were circling overhead.
The latest incidents come after the Ukrainian navy complained in September of “acts of provocation” by Russian border guards against its ships taking the same route.The latest incidents come after the Ukrainian navy complained in September of “acts of provocation” by Russian border guards against its ships taking the same route.
Ukraine has recently increased the number of its naval vessels and border guard patrols in the Sea of Azov, in response to an increase of checks on commercial shipping by Russia.Ukraine has recently increased the number of its naval vessels and border guard patrols in the Sea of Azov, in response to an increase of checks on commercial shipping by Russia.
Kiev and the west have accused Moscow of deliberately blocking ships from accessing Mariupol, which has vital access to heavy industry in the region. Mariupol is situated near to the area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has caused at least 10,000 deaths since 2014.Kiev and the west have accused Moscow of deliberately blocking ships from accessing Mariupol, which has vital access to heavy industry in the region. Mariupol is situated near to the area of eastern Ukraine controlled by Russian-backed separatists in a conflict that has caused at least 10,000 deaths since 2014.
UkraineUkraine
EuropeEurope
RussiaRussia
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