Home Global News Russia Attacks and Seizes Ukrainian Naval Vessels

Russia Attacks and Seizes Ukrainian Naval Vessels

In violation of international laws, Russia once again targeted and attacked Ukraine, after four years of disastrous war the Kremlin has waged against Ukraine in Crimea

Russian coastguard ships opened fire on Sunday as two Ukrainian boats sailed through the Kerch Strait off the coast of Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Three Ukrainians were wounded and twenty-four were detained. Whereas Russia maintained that the boats had entered illegally into its waters, Ukraine cried that it was an “act of aggression”. The Crimean court ordered the twelve of the Ukrainians to be detained and their rulings will be issued by the court on Wednesday.

 

Crimea and the Kerch Strait
Crimea and the Kerch Strait

 

Ukraine’s parliament has declared its inclination to impose martial law for a 30-day period from 26 November in 10 border regions. The President of Ukraine has also pushed for a “full-scale war” with Russia.

Russia opened a bridge this year between Russia and Crimea over the Kerch Strait, which leads into the Sea of Azov. This sent tensions flaring on the Ukrainian side.

In February 2014, after Euromaiden protests and the fall of the Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych, Russian soldiers took control of strategic positions in Crimea, which then led to its annexation. This has escalated into a war between Ukrainian and the pro-Russia separatists of Crimea, backed by the Russian Federation.

 

A Ukrainian sailor is escorted by a Russian intelligence officer to a court room in Simferopol, Crimea, on Tuesday, 27 November
A Ukrainian sailor is escorted by a Russian intelligence officer to a court room in Simferopol, Crimea, on Tuesday, 27 November

 

International Reaction

USA President Donald Trump fired that “Maybe I won’t have the meeting [with Mr Putin]. Maybe I won’t even have the meeting. I don’t like that aggression. I don’t want that aggression at all,” talking about the G-20 summit that is to be held later this month.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that the seizure of Ukrainian ships is a “dangerous escalation and a violation of international law”.

The UK condemned Russia’s “destabilising behaviour in the region and its ongoing violation of Ukrainian territorial sovereignty”.