Head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) Vasyl Hrytsak confirmed on Tuesday that intelligence officers had been on board the Ukrainian naval vessels that were detained in the Kerch Strait after crossing Russia's maritime border.
KIEV (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 27th November, 2018) Head of the Ukrainian Security Service (SBU) Vasyl Hrytsak confirmed on Tuesday that intelligence officers had been on board the Ukrainian naval vessels that were detained in the Kerch Strait after crossing Russia's maritime border.
According to Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), Ukraine's Berdyansk and Nikopol gunboats and the Yany Kapu tugboat on Sunday sailed toward the Kerch Strait, the only entrance to the Sea of Azov, where the ships were seized by Russia after failing to respond to lawful demands to stop. The FSB also said that these provocations were coordinated by two SBU officers who were on the vessels.
"SBU Head Vasyl Hrytsak confirms the presence of the officers of the SBU Military Counterintelligence Department on board of Ukrainian ships attacked and seized by Russia in violation of the international legislation in the Kerch Strait on November 25, 2018," the SBU press service said.
According to the statement, these officers were providing counterintelligence support to the Ukrainian naval unit.
"The Security Service of Ukraine takes all necessary measures within its area of responsibility to release Ukrainian captives and return them to their families. At the same time, the Security Service of Ukraine requests the top command of Russian intelligence to stop psychological and physical pressure on Ukrainian soldiers, currently exercised to justify the act of flippant aggression," the press service added.
In response to the situation in the Kerch Strait, the Ukrainian authorities decided on Monday to introduce martial law in select regions along the Russian border, and the coasts of the Black Sea and Sea of Azov, for 30 days.
