Date: Nov 25, 2018
Location: neutral waters of the Black Sea, Ukraine
Russian forces open fire on a group of Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula near the Kerch Strait late on November 25, 2018, striking two warships and wounding 6 crew members before seizing the vessels along with a Ukrainian Navy tugboat.
1 ship was hit, 1 was rammed, all 3 seized. 6 Ukrainian sailors were wounded, 23 seized.
Ukr ships were fired at and subsequently captured by Russia in the international waters of the Black Sea – Ukraine’s Ministry on Affairs of Occupied Territories releases a graphical illustration https://t.co/eDTQWaA1tf |EMPR #Azov pic.twitter.com/siGVfCQoKm
— Euromaidan PR (@EuromaidanPR) 28 November 2018
After Russia occupied Ukrainian Crimea in 2014, it started to build a bridge across the Kerch Strait that connects Russia with the seized territory.
The bridge restricts Ukraine’s access to the Sea of Azov and in particular to Ukraine’s big port in Mariupol.
After building the bridge, Russians started to behave as if the Sea of Azov is their territory. They started to restrict access through the bridge, to stop, search and even arrest ships coming to and from Mariupol.
To diminish Russia’s appetites in the Sea of Azov, Ukraine started to build naval base in the city of Berdyansk, and to relocate navy ships from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov.
On November 25, 2018, three Ukrainian navy ships left the point in Odesa and headed to the port in Mariupol.
Why this is a big deal taking into account that Russia has been already in war with Ukraine for almost 5 years? Because by now Russia was hiding behind the backs of its ghost troops, mercenaries and civilians, and pretended that Russia is not involved.
This allowed the deeply concerned West to pretend as if it is an internal problem of Ukraine and not to do much.
On November 25, 2018 warships under Russian flags opened fire on Ukrainian vessels.
Ukrainian sailors’ seizure
UPDATE 12:00 November 27
The first picture of Ukrainian “Berdyansk” small armored artillery boat damaged by Russian ships.
Expert estimates confirm the hit was by a 30 mm projectile from “Izumrud’s” AK-630 artillery system. pic.twitter.com/3fsm7F6SS7
— Ukrainian Military Portal (@mil_in_ua_en) 27 November 2018
Ukrainian President has asked parliament to vote on Monday on whether to impose martial law on the country for 60 days, after his Military Cabinet recommended the move in a late-night meeting.
Credits: NewsFromUkraine
