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Russia-Ukraine tensions rise after Kerch Strait ship capture Russia-Ukraine tensions rise after Kerch Strait ship capture
(about 3 hours later)
Ukraine's parliament is to decide whether to bring in martial law as anger over the capture of three of its naval vessels by Russia spilled into the streets overnight. Ukraine's parliament is to decide whether to bring in martial law, after the capture of three of its naval vessels by Russia.
Protesters gathered outside the Russian embassy in the capital Kiev and an embassy car was set on fire. The three ships were sailing off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, when they were seized.
The incident, in waters off the Crimean Peninsula, marks a major escalation of tension between the two countries. Ukraine said Russia rammed one of its boats in an "act of aggression", while Russia said the ships had illegally entered its waters.
The UN Security Council will hold an emergency meeting as a result. The incident marks a major escalation of tension between the two countries.
Each country blames the other for the incident in which two gunboats and a tug were captured and a number of Ukrainian crew members injured. This is the first time the two militaries have come into open conflict in recent years, although Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country.
There have been growing tensions between the two sides over access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov off the Crimean peninsula - annexed by Russia in 2014. The captured crew members are now being questioned in Kerch, Russia says.
Ukrainian forces have been fighting Russian-backed separatists in the east of the country - but this is the first time the two militaries have come into open conflict in recent years. What exactly happened?
How did the latest crisis unfold? On Sunday morning, Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats, and the Yani Kapu tug, tried to sail from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.
It began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters.
On Sunday morning, Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats, and the Yani Kapu tug, tried to sail from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.
Ukraine says the Russians tried to intercept the ships, ramming the tug.
The vessels continued towards the Kerch Strait, the only access to the Sea of Azov, but were blocked by a tanker placed under the Kerch bridge.
Russia built the bridge, that links mainland Russia to Crimea, earlier this year, despite opposition from Ukraine.
On Sunday, Russia also scrambled two fighter jets and two helicopters to the area. It accused the ships of illegally entering its waters and said traffic had been suspended for security reasons.
The Ukrainian navy later said the boats had been hit and disabled as they tried to leave the area. It said 23 Ukrainians were on board and six crew members had been injured.
Russia's FSB security service later confirmed that one of its patrol boats had used force to seize the three Ukrainian vessels but said only three sailors had been wounded.
Russia has accused Ukraine of violating legal norms by sending the vessels into the area in a "pre-planned provocation".
However, Ukraine said it had informed the Russians in advance of its plan to move its ships through the sea to Mariupol, and said their seizure was "another act of armed aggression" by Russia.
Blame game
Analysis by Steven Rosenberg, BBC News, Moscow
Tension between Russia and Ukraine has been building for months off Crimea.
Under a 2003 treaty between the governments in Moscow and Kiev, the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov are shared territorial waters.Under a 2003 treaty between the governments in Moscow and Kiev, the Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov are shared territorial waters.
But recently there, Russia began inspecting all vessels sailing to or from Ukrainian ports. However, Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters.
The use of force by Russia to seize Ukrainian vessels - with casualties - is a major escalation. But you won't hear Moscow taking the blame. Ukraine says the Russians tried to intercept the ships, ramming the tug.
Under President Vladimir Putin, when Russia has used force before, its line of defence has always been: "We didn't start it." That goes for the Russia-Georgia War of 2008, and the appearance of "Little Green Men" (Russian special forces) in Crimea in 2014, which preceded Moscow's annexation of the peninsula. The vessels continued towards the Kerch Strait, the only way to enter the Sea of Azov, but were blocked by a tanker placed under the Kerch bridge. The ships were then seized by Russia.
So, expect Moscow to pin the blame for what happened on Sunday and for whatever happens next on President Petro Poroshenko's government. Russia also scrambled two fighter jets and two helicopters to the area.
What has the reaction been? How do the Russian and Ukrainian accounts differ?
The Ukrainian navy said its boats were hit and disabled as they tried to leave the area. It said 23 Ukrainians were on board and six crew members had been injured.
Russia's FSB security service confirmed that one of its patrol boats had used force to seize the vessels but said only three sailors had been hurt.
Russia has also accused Ukraine of violating legal norms by sending the vessels into its territorial waters in a "pre-planned provocation".
Foreign ministry Sergei Lavrov said Ukraine broke "key provisions of international law" including naval law.
Under the current treaty, vessels from both sides enjoy freedom of navigation in the area.
However, Russia annexed Crimea, which borders the Ukrainian side of the strait, in 2014, following a Moscow-backed referendum that the UN condemned as illegal.
It also constructed the Kerch bridge linking mainland Russia to Crimea earlier this year, despite opposition from Ukraine.
Meanwhile, Ukraine argues that it had informed the Russians in advance of its plan to move its ships through the sea to Mariupol.
It has accused Russia of blocking access to the Kerch Strait, and described the seizure of the ships as "another act of armed aggression" by Russia.
Ukrainian military chief Viktor Muzhenko told the Unian news agency that the Russian coast guards had "fired to kill" during the confrontation.
Why is this happening now?
There have been growing tensions between the two sides over access to the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
In recent months, Russia has begun inspecting all vessels sailing to or from Ukrainian ports.
The inspections began soon after Ukraine detained a fishing vessel from Crimea in March. Moscow says the checks are necessary for security reasons, pointing to a potential threat to the Kerch bridge from Ukrainian radicals.
Ukraine has accused Russia of trying to occupy the Azov sea and damage Ukraine's economy by hindering access to two important ports, Berdyansk and Mariupol.
President Petro Poroshenko told the Washington Post in September that iron and steel products from Mariupol make up 25% of Ukraine's export revenue.
How was Ukraine reacted?
The standoff has been met with anger in Ukraine.The standoff has been met with anger in Ukraine.
Late on Sunday, about 150 people gathered outside the Russian embassy in Kiev, some throwing flares. At least one car belonging to the embassy was set alight.Late on Sunday, about 150 people gathered outside the Russian embassy in Kiev, some throwing flares. At least one car belonging to the embassy was set alight.
"We gathered here today to protest against Russians over their actions today, over shooting of our military," Oleksiy Ryabov told Reuters news agency. President Poroshenko described the Russian actions as "unprovoked and crazy", and said he would ask parliament on Monday to introduce martial law.
"We are very angry. We should have severed all diplomatic relations with this country a long time ago." However, he stressed that this did not mean a "declaration of war... Ukraine does not plan to fight anyone".
During a meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, President Poroshenko described the Russian actions as "unprovoked and crazy".
He said he would ask parliament on Monday to introduce martial law but stressed that this did not mean a "declaration of war.
"Ukraine does not plan to fight anyone," he said.
Martial law could give the government the power to restrict public demonstrations, regulate the media, suspend elections, and oblige citizens to carry out "socially necessary" tasks such as working at a defence facility, local media report.
The Ukrainian defence ministry announced that orders had been given to put the military on full combat alert.The Ukrainian defence ministry announced that orders had been given to put the military on full combat alert.
Meanwhile, Nato and the EU have both issued statements calling on Russia to allow access to the Kerch strait. What could martial law in Ukraine involve?
Martial law could give the government the power to restrict public demonstrations, regulate the media, suspend elections, and oblige citizens to carry out "socially necessary" tasks such as working at a defence facility, local media report.
Ukraine's parliament will discuss the proposal at 16:00 local time (14:00 GMT).
If approved, it would be the first time Ukraine has enacted martial law since the beginning of the Ukraine-Russia conflict in 2014.
However, politicians are split on the issue, with some expressing concern that it could lead to the 2019 presidential and parliamentary elections being cancelled.
Why are relations so bad between Russia and Ukraine?
Ukraine gained independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
However, Russia considers a Western-leaning Ukraine a threat to its interests.
In 2014, Ukraine's pro-Russian leader was overthrown, after large-scale protests against the government's decision to abandon plans to sign an association agreement with the EU.
Russia then annexed Crimea, while Russia-backed separatists in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions moved against the Ukrainian state.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sendin g its troops to the region and arming the separatists.
Moscow denies this but says that Russian volunteers are helping the rebels.
More than 10,000 people have been killed in the conflict in the east.
How have the international community reacted to the latest crisis?
Nato's Secretary General spoke by phone with President Poroshenko, expressing his support for Ukraine's territorial integrity. The Nato-Ukraine commission will hold an extraordinary meeting on Monday afternoon.
The EU said: "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 said: "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."
It added that Russia's construction of the Kerch Bridge was a "violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."It added that Russia's construction of the Kerch Bridge was a "violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity."
Why is the Sea of Azov a flashpoint? However, Ukraine's foreign minister urged world leaders not to restrict themselves to formal statements.
The shallow Sea of Azov lies east of Crimea, and south of the Ukrainian regions partially seized by pro-Russian separatists. The UN Security Council will also hold an emergency meeting later on Monday.
The two Ukrainian ports on its northern shore - Berdyansk and Mariupol - are key to exporting grain and products such as steel, as well as for importing coal.
President Poroshenko has described the ports as key to Ukraine's economy.
"If they block a vessel with Ukrainian iron and steel products from Mariupol for one day, the cost is thousands of dollars," he told the Washington Post in September.
Iron and steel products from Mariupol make up 25% of Ukraine's export revenue, he added.
Earlier this month, the EU warned it would take "targeted measures" to address the fact Russia has been inspecting ships going to or from Ukrainian ports - despite the existing treaty guaranteeing freedom of navigation.
The inspections began soon after Ukraine detained a fishing vessel from Crimea in March. Moscow says they are necessary for security reasons, pointing to a potential threat to the bridge from Ukrainian radicals.
More than 10,000 people have been killed in the eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions since separatists moved against the Ukrainian state in April 2014.
Ukraine and the West accuse Russia of sending its troops to the region and arming the separatists.
Moscow denies this but says that Russian volunteers are helping the rebels.