The Ukrainian Navy states that Russian Ka-52 attack helicopters showing aggressive actions against Ukrainian small armoured artillery vessels circumnavigating Crimea en route to a Ukrainian port in Mariupol.
According to a statement released by the Ukrainian Navy, on 25 November 25 at 13.12, were recorded incidents with two Ka-52 attack helicopters of the Russian Armed Forces that tried to targeting their combat systems on the Ukrainian warships. Russian army sent Ka-52 attack helicopters to intercept Ukraine Navy vessels.
Russia and Ukraine accused each other of breaking international law on Sunday after Russian border guards tried and failed to stop two Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels circumnavigating Crimea en route to a Ukrainian port.
The incident in the Black Sea reflects rising tensions between Moscow and Kyiv around the Sea of Azov which both countries have the right to use.
In addition to #RussianCoastGuard patrol/gunboats, Russia is enforcing its illegal blockade of the #Kerch strait with Ka-52 attack helicopters loaded with what looks like extra fuel, rockets and ATGMs.#Ukraine #Russia #KerchBlockade pic.twitter.com/106hteAYPl
— Petri Mäkelä (@pmakela1) 25 November 2018
On Sunday, the Ukrainian Navy said it had sent two small armoured artillery vessels and a tugboat from the port of Odessa to Mariupol, a journey that requires them to pass from the Black Sea via the Kerch Strait into the Sea of Azov.
But after Russia’s coast guard ships on Sunday intentionally carried out acts of aggression against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy.
“However, contrary to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and the Treaty between Ukraine and the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Use of the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait, Russian ships – Sobol class patrol boats, the Don coast guard ship, Mangust-class patrol boats, and the Suzdalets corvette – carried out openly aggressive actions against the ships of the Ukrainian Navy,” the Ukrainian Navy said in a statement on Facebook on Sunday morning.
The Russian border ship “Don” mounted an intentional ram attack on a Ukrainian Navy tugboat whose main engine was damaged. It also damaged shell plating and guard railing of the Ukrainian vessel, and its life raft was lost.
According to the Ukrainian navy, “the occupiers’ dispatch service refuses to ensure the right to freedom of navigation, guaranteed by international agreements.”
At this time Russia blocked Kerch strait with a grounded tanker at the bridge from Azov Sea side.
