The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on 14 September that Russian Mangust-class patrol boat, also known as Project 12150, arranged provocations by undertaking dangerous maneuvers in the Sea of Azov.
According to the statement, the Russian PSKA-611 Coast Guard vessel dangerously was close to colliding with the Ukrainian combat ship in the area of Dolgaya Spit.
The Mangust-class patrol craft is designed to operate in coastal areas, ports, and other littoral areas, to perform missions like protection of territorial maritime borders, law enforcement, other defense missions, search and rescue, protection of fisheries, and enforcing rules of navigation.
‘During the survey, the Russian crew claimed that follows in accordance with the task, however, after that changed its course and headed in the direction of the Ukrainian boat. Yet, it was undertaking dangerous maneuvers and approached by several meters to the boat of the State Border Guard Service. The Russians were recommended to change their course, in reply, once more they undertook a dangerous maneuver, causing dangerous conditions of navigations. The Russian border patrol boat changed its direction after all,’ the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine claimed.
The 112 Channel also reported that Ukraine’s Border Guard Service also claimed that the crew of the Russian boat violated the requirements of the international rules for preventing collision of ships at sea.
It should be noted that the Russian activity in the Sea of Azov increased over the last three months. Russians do not allow the trade vessels heading to and emerging from the Ukrainian ports to freely pass through the Kerch Strait.
In this regard, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko commissioned the Minister of Defense, the Chief of the General Staff and the Commandment of the Naval Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to take measures to stop Russian provocations in relation to blocking the entry of vessels into Ukrainian ports on the Azov Sea. The Ministry of Infrastructure of Ukraine developed a set of measures in response to Russia’s actions. The set of measures includes the limit of passenger traffic with Russia.
Also, Ukraine deployed modern armoured artillery boats to Azov Sea to counter Russian aggression.