Russia opened fire and captured 3 Ukrainian naval vessels, 6 wounded and 23 crew members captured.
Russia’s coast guard opened fire on and seized three of Ukraine’s vessels Sunday, wounding six crew members, after a tense standoff in the Black Sea near the Crimean Peninsula, the Ukrainian navy said.
Russia Deploys Su-25 Jets & Helicopters to blocks passage in Kerch Strait
Russian special forces captured two small armored artillery boats and a tugboat of the Ukrainian Navy in the Black Sea. Ukrainian Navy already officially confirmed that Russia captured two “Berdyansʹk” (P-175) and “Nikopolʹ” (P-176) Gurza-class small armored artillery boats and a raid tug A-947 “Jani Kapu”.
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation opened fire on the naval vessels and are trying to take them by storm. During the storm of Ukrainian naval vessels, six sailors were injured.
Radio interception, as an evidence of purposeful aggressive escalation of the situation (in the Black and Azov seas) which was ordered by military and military-political leadership of the Russian Federation.
Later, press center of the Ukrainian Navy has confirmed that after leaving the 12-mile zone, Russia’s coast guard ships opened fire at Ukraine’s navy group. Damaged one “Berdyansk” small armored artillery boat.
The Ukrainian navy says Russia has opened fire on its ships in the Black Sea. “Berdyansk” small armored artillery boat was hit by the strikes, injuring a crew member, the Ukrainian navy said.
There were also reported that three of Ukraine’s ships had been captured by Russia after a day of rising tensions off the coast of Crimea.
Hours earlier, a spokesman for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko says that the leader is convened an emergency meeting of the military’s top brass amid Russia tensions near Crimea.
Also, Ukraine’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko: Kyiv “immediately appeals to the United Nations Security Council” regarding the Azov Sea incidents and blockade.
Strongly condemn #Russia’s move to physically block Kerch Strait & ramming of Ukrainian boat. Cannot be qualified differently than an act of agression & another blatant violation of international maritime law. Such actions undermine security of the whole region. @MFA_Ukraine
— Linas Linkevicius (@LinkeviciusL) November 25, 2018
The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevicius stated that Russian actions undermine the security of the whole region.
“Strongly condemn Russia’s move to physically block Kerch Strait & ramming of Ukrainian boat. Cannot be qualified differently than an act of aggression & another blatant violation of an international maritime law. Such actions undermine security of the whole region,” said the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Lithuania, Linas Linkevicius.
The EU Spokesperson Maja Kocijancic has stated that EU expect Russia to restore freedom of passage at the Kerch strait and urge all to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation immediately.
“The EU does not and will not recognize the illegal annexatexpects the Crimean peninsula by Russia,” also said in a statement.
Russian and Ukrainian navy vessels faced off in a tense stand-off at a key naval chokepoint off the disputed Crimea peninsula on Sunday, with Kyiv accusing Moscow of blocking the passage of three of its warships and ramming one of them.
The incident with captured of Ukranian naval vessels marks the most serious maritime confrontation between the Moscow and Kyiv since Russia’s invasion and annexation of Crimea in 2014, and threatens to open up a new front in the conflict that spilled into a four-year long war in eastern Ukraine.
On 25 November in the morning:Russia’s coast guard ships intentionally rammed Ukranian Navy vessel
