Russia Fires on Ukrainian Ships, Captures Vessels in Major Escalation

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Russian forces opened fire on the Ukrainian navy on Sunday off the coast of Crimea and captured at least three vessels, marking a major escalation in tensions between the two countries, according to military reports and the Ukrainian government.

The incident occurred as tensions increased in a standoff between Moscow and Kiev earlier in the day over the Russian Navy blocking the strategic Kerch Strait, which separates the Black Sea and Sea of Azov.

Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with his war cabinet as his military stands at military readiness, with unconfirmed reports saying that a declaration of a State of War is on the table for am upcoming National Security and Defense Council meeting.

The NSDC did confirm late on Sunday that it will convene a meeting at midnight in Kiev to consider introducing martial law following the naval clashes with Russia.

A video shared circulated by Bild jouranlist Julian Röpcke purports to show a part of the incident, but Breaking911 was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the upload.

Military analysts reported that one of the small artillery boats were damaged, and the Ukrainian Navy press centre confirmed that Russia’s coast guard ships opened fire at the navy group.

Kiev claims two armoured artillery vessels and a tugboat were seized by the Russians, and at least two Ukrainian sailors were injured, a move that could be potentially considered illegal by the global community as it was allegedly in international waters.

A report from Inforesists says that there are six wounded with two in serious condition, citing an anonymous source in the Ukrainian Defence Ministry.

Kiev formally accused Moscow of ramming one of its vessels near the coast of Russian-annexed Crimea, saying the “openly aggressive actions” took place as three of Ukraine’s ships sailed from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov.

A statement from Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Russia’s moves were “a violation of the norms of the UN Charter and the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea”, but maintained Kiev will seek “to ensure diplomatic and legal response.”

Russia responded by saying that the Ukrainian ships were in its waters and accused the former soviet republic of “provocative actions”, according to translations from the Russian statement.

“NATO fully supports Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters,” a spokesman from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said.

“We call on Russia to ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea , in accordance with international law.”

Mariana Betsa of the Ukraine’s foreign affairs ministry said close to midnight Ukraine time “today’s dangerous events in the Azov Sea testify that a new front of [Russian] aggression is open” and called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council.

Ukrainian military units in Odessa are on “battle alert”, with the Navy and Air Force on “full alert” after the incident, according to reports citing Ukrainian agencies.

There have been reports from military observers and Russia’s RT of intense artillery shelling by Ukrainian military in Donetsk, Lugansk regions.

The European Union has urged both Ukraine and Russia to act with “utmost restraint” and work towards de-escalation.

The Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and Navy websites are down.

The United States and the United Nations have yet to respond to Ukrainian claims.


(c) 2018 Breaking911 – Eli Ridder

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