Russian special forces seized two small armored artillery boats and a tugboat of the Ukrainian Navy in Black Sea.
Ukrainian Navy already officially confirmed that Russia seized two “Berdyansʹk” (P-175) and “Nikopolʹ” (P-176) Gurza-class small armored artillery boats and a raid tug A-947 “Jani Kapu”.
During the storm of Ukrainian naval vessels, six sailors were injured.
Hours earlier, a spokesman for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says that the leader is convened an emergency meeting of the military’s top brass amid Russia tensions near Crimea.
Also, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko: Kyiv “immediately appeals to the United Nations Security Council” regarding the Azov Sea incidents and blockade.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevicius stated that Russian actions undermine security of the whole region.
“Strongly condemn Russia’s move to physically block Kerch Strait & ramming of Ukrainian boat. Cannot be qualified differently than an act of aggression & another blatant violation of an international maritime law. Such actions undermine security of the whole region,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevicius.
The EU Spokesperson Maja Kocijancic has stated that EU 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,” also said in statement.
Russian and Ukrainian navy vessels faced off in a tense stand-off at a key naval chokepoint off the disputed Crimea peninsula on Sunday, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of blocking the passage of three of its warships and ramming one of them.
The incident with captured of Ukranian naval vessels marks the most serious maritime confrontation between the Moscow and Kyiv since Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014, and threatens to open up a new front in the conflict that spilled into a four-year long war in eastern Ukraine.
On 25 November in the morning: Russia’s coast guard ships intentionally rammed Ukranian Navy vessel
