Update: Russia reopened the Kerch Strait near Crimea to shipping in the early hours of Monday morning after firing on and seizing three Ukrainian naval ships a day earlier, a move that triggered a dangerous new crisis between the two countries.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine have published the names of three Ukrainian Navy sailors that were injured during the attack of the Russian ships. The sailors are now staying at the hospitals in Russia-occupied Crimea. They were: Vasyl Soroka, 27, from Novoukrainka, a town in Kirovohrad Oblast Andrii Artemenko, 24, Andrii Eider, 18, both from Odesa, a city in southern Ukraine
Earlier:
Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Russia-annexed Crimea on Sunday after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors. The incident sharply escalated tensions that have been growing between the two countries since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine. Russia has since worked steadily to bolster its zone of control around the Crimean Peninsula.
The latest:
U.S. Ambassador Nikki Haley says an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council has been called over the escalating situation between Russia and Ukraine. Haley tweeted that a meeting has been called for Monday morning.
The origins :
The Ukrainian navy says Russian ships fired on and seized two of its artillery ships Sunday in the Black Sea following an incident near Crimea, which Moscow annexed from Kiev in 2014. A tugboat was also seized, and two crew members were hurt.
https://twitter.com/BabakTaghvaee/status/1066761716745277441
What did Russia say:
Russia has blamed Ukraine for preparing and orchestrating “provocations.” Russia’s FSB security service said early on Monday its border patrol boats had seized the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop, Russian news agencies reported.
The FSB said it had been forced to act because the ships – two small Ukrainian armored artillery vessels and a tug boat – had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions, and ignored warnings to stop while maneuvering dangerously.
What did Ukraine say:
Ukraine denied its ships had done anything wrong, accused Russia of military aggression, and asked for the international community to mobilize to punish Russia.
The Ukrainian navy said on social media six Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the subsequent seizure of its ships, which appear to have been rammed and boarded, and that the Russian attack on them had occurred after they had retreated and headed back toward Odessa, the Black Sea port from where they had begun their journey.
“After leaving the 12-mile zone, the Russian Federation’s FSB (security service) opened fire at the flotilla belonging to … the armed forces of Ukraine,” it said in a statement.
How did Ukraine react:
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met his top military and security chiefs. Poroshenko said he would propose that parliament impose martial law.
What did the EU and NATO say?
The European Union said in a statement it expected Russia to restore freedom of passage via the Kerch Strait and urged both sides to act with utmost restraint to de-escalate the situation. A NATO spokeswoman issued a similar appeal to both side
Context:
Russian politicians denounced Kiev, saying the incident looked like a calculated bid by Poroshenko to increase his popularity ahead of an election next year.
The flashpoint between Russia and Ukraine over access from the Black Sea to the Sea of Azov is remarkable in that it did not flare up years ago. And that’s because the pinch point between the Russian annexed Crimea and the “motherland” known as the Kerch Strait is so loaded with political and military pressures that it’s surprising the clash we have just witnessed hasn’t happened before now. Rewind four years and the newly assertive pro-Western government headed by President Petro Poroshenko was turning its back on Russia and looking to the West, and NATO, for trade and protection. It wasn’t long before the Russians reminded the Ukrainians their interests could not be ignored.
Based on CNN/Reuters/ABC/AlJazeera/Twitter
