Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev has said that the illegal crossing of the Russian border by Ukrainian ships is a gross violation of international maritime law and a planned provocation
MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th November, 2018) Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev has said that the illegal crossing of the Russian border by Ukrainian ships is a gross violation of international maritime law and a planned provocation.
On Sunday, Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats and the Yany Kapu tug crossed the Russian maritime border. According to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), the vessels sailed toward the Kerch Strait, an entrance to the Sea of Azov, where the ships were seized by Russia due to the lack of reply to a lawful demand to stop.�In response to the situation in the Kerch Strait, the Ukrainian authorities decided on Monday to introduce martial law in selected regions of Ukraine along the border with Russia as well as along the coast of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov for 30 days.
"The illegal crossing of the state border of the Russian Federation by Ukrainian ships is certainly a gross violation of international maritime law, it looks like a planned provocation," Patrushev said in an interview to the Argumenty i Fakty newspaper.
The official noted that Kiev's actions had become a constant source of threats.
"In short, Kiev's actions have become a constant source of threats, and the Sunday incident at sea is yet another line in the list of crimes committed by the Ukrainian authorities," Patrushev said.
