Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Crimea last night after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors, a move that risks igniting a new crisis between the
Andrew Osborn
November 26 2018 2:30 AM
Russia seized three Ukrainian naval ships off the coast of Crimea last night after opening fire on them and wounding several sailors, a move that risks igniting a new crisis between the two countries.
Russia’s FSB security service said its border patrol boats had seized the Ukrainian naval vessels in the Black Sea and used weapons to force them to stop.
The FSB said it had been forced to act because the ships – two small Ukrainian armoured artillery vessels and a tug boat – had illegally entered its territorial waters, attempted illegal actions, and ignored warnings to stop while manoeuvring dangerously.
« Weapons were used with the aim of forcibly stopping the Ukrainian warships, » the FSB said.
« As a result, all three Ukrainian naval vessels were seized in the Russian Federation’s territorial waters in the Black Sea. »
The FSB said three Ukrainian sailors had been wounded in the incident and were getting medical care.
With relations still raw after Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its backing for a pro-Moscow insurgency in eastern Ukraine, the incident risks pushing the two countries towards a wider conflict.
Ukraine denied its ships had done anything wrong, accused Russia of military aggression, and for the international community to punish Russia.
