BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:30 P.M.) - Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) impounded three Ukrainian vessels in Kerch, Monday, after they breached Russia’s Black Sea territorial waters the previous day.
The FSB initiated a criminal case against the crew of the Ukrainian vessels - which include missile boat Nikopol, the Gurza-class boat Berdyansk and the tugboat Yani Kapu - “for illegal trespassing of the state border."
According to a statement by the FSB, on Sunday, “at around 7:00 AM MSK [04:00 GMT], three vessels of the Ukrainian Naval Forces have breached articles 19 and 21 of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, which determines coastal states' right to ensure security at sea."
The FSB said weapons were used to induce the Ukrainian vessels to stop after they had performed "dangerous maneuvers." Three Ukrainian military personnel were injured as a result and received medical attention.
According to Ukrainian authorities, their vessels had a right to pass freely through the Kerch Strait, based on international law. Moscow says it was not given advanced warning.
The Command of the Naval Forces of Ukraine put the blame for the incident on the Russian side for what it called "its aggressive essence."
The Ukrainian Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) is set to discuss the introduction of martial law after the incident, during a hearing on Monday.
Video credit: Ruptly
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Posted from AMN with SteemPress : https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/three-ukrainian-ships-detained-in-kerch-after-entering-russian-territorial-waters-video/
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