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U. S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley has criticized Russia’s seizure of Ukrainian naval vessels, calling it an “outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory.”
Speaking at an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council on Nov. 26, Haley said the move was “another reckless Russian escalation” in the years-long war. Haley noted that she spoke to President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo before making the statement.
“Sunday’s outrageous violation of sovereign Ukrainian territory is part of a pattern of Russian behavior that includes the purported annexation of Crimea and abuses against countless Ukrainians in Crimea as well as stoking conflict that has taken the lives of more than 10,000 people in eastern Ukraine. And it shows no sign of decreasing,” Haley said.
According to Ukraine, Russian military boats fired at a pair of Ukrainian navy vessels and a tugboat on Nov. 25. The Russians rammed at least one vessel and wounded several Ukrainian crew members.
Ukraine claims six people were wounded. Russia reported three injuries. The seized Ukrainian boats were towed to a nearby port.
The skirmish transpired in the strategically significant Kerch strait, where a Kremlin-built bridge connects Russia-proper to the southeastern portion of Ukraine occupied by Russia-backed forces.
Russia said the Ukrainian ships illegally crossed into Russian waters. Ukraine contends that its vessels followed international maritime rules.
