Crisis in Ukraine again, this time it comes after Russia blockaded access to the Azov Sea using two warships. Ukraine's navy responded and sent two naval ships to the area.
The Russians later sunk an oil tanker to permanently deny Ukraine access to the strait. Seems like Russians have fired on and now captured the two Ukrainian warships and Ukraine is declaring martial law and mobilizing.
Looks like Putin is gearing up again to scratch his itch again. Previous thread on Ukraine
https://forum.calgarypuck.com/showth...nvades+ukraine
Quote:
Russia has seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the coast of the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries.
Two gunboats and a tug were captured by Russian forces. Ukraine says they were fired on and six crew were injured.
The countries blame each other for the incident. Ukraine's government said it would declare martial law.
The crisis began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters.
The Russians placed a tanker under a bridge in the Kerch Strait - the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko called an urgent meeting of his "war cabinet" over the incident, his spokesperson said.
The shallow Sea of Azov lies east of Crimea, and south of the Ukrainian regions partially seized by pro-Russian separatists.
The two Ukrainian ports on its northern shore - Berdyansk and Mariupol - are key for exporting grain and produce such as steel, also for importing coal.
In 2003, Ukraine and Russia signed a treaty that defined the Sea of Azov as internal waters of the two countries. The treaty guaranteed free navigation to all Ukrainian and Russian vessels.
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Summary of incident so far.
Quote:
- Ukrainian Navy ships (2 small rocket boats and 1 tug) were heading from Odessa to Mariupol.
- Having approached to the Crimean Bridge, they were accused of "trespassing the state border of Russia" and attacked (in a form of ramming) by the Russian Guard Ship "Don".
- Don damaged the tug's propulsion unit but, according to Ukrainian media (not confirmed by Russian ones), got damages as well and is off the proper service for now.
- Russian forces have blocked the passage under the bridge by sinking a tanker there, to prevent Ukrainian ships from passing further to the Sea of Azov.
- Ukrainian Navy report they have informed Russian side of the plan to send naval ships to Mariupol and provided the whole itinerary with timings.
- After 3 hours of waiting, Ukrainian ships (not confirmed) passed under the bridge and headed towards Mariupol.
- Sources both onboard of Ukrainian ships and on the Kerch Peninsula report that Ukrainian ships have been stopped by Russian forces near Zavetnoye village (which is before the bridge, so the previous item seems void)
- Sources in Crimea say the Russian have sent couple combat helis to perhaps deliver special task force teams to further attempt to board Ukrainian ships in the night time.
- Ukrainian Navy say the mariners onboard of their ships are ready to any actions by the Russian.
- Ukrainian ships were ordered to go back to Odessa, in order to prevent possible boarding of the Russian special task forces
- After leaving the 12-mile zone, Russian ships started effective fire on the Ukrainian ships
- Russians capture Ukrainian ships
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https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46338671