Russia Closes Kerch Strait to Foreign Ships Until October 2021
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry has already protested and called for an end to the escalation.
The Russian Federation has announced that from next week until October 2021 it is closing part of the Black Sea waters in the direction of the Kerch Strait to military ships and state vessels of other countries, citing military exercises. This was reported by the press service of the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“Such actions by the Russian Federation are another attempt to usurp, in violation of the norms and principles of international law, Ukraine's sovereign rights as a coastal state, since it is Ukraine that has the right to regulate shipping in these waters of the Black Sea”, — the ministry noted.
Ukraine calls Russia's decision a gross violation of the freedom of navigation guaranteed by the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea. According to the Convention, Russia must not obstruct transit passage through an international strait.
“Russia's conduct indicates that it has no intention of abandoning its aggression against Ukraine using military and hybrid methods”, — the ministry's statement says.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry protested against Russia's actions and demanded that the decision to illegally close certain areas of the Black Sea be revoked. Ukraine also called on international partners to increase pressure on Russia in response to these actions.
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