Ukrainian Navy Accuses Russian Border Guard Ship of Being “Aggressive” at Sea
The Ukrainian Navy said there appeared to be a provocation from a Russian border patrol vessel during the planned passage of Ukrainian warships from Odessa to Mariupol.
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| Ukrainian Navy warship. Photo: Courtesy of eyewitness |
According to the Ukrainian Navy, on Sunday two small armored artillery ships and a tugboat made a planned trip from the port of Odessa to the port of Mariupol on the Sea of Azov.
"Russian border guard ships: patrol boats Sobol, Don, speedboat Mangust, and Suzdalets carried out open belligerent actions against Ukrainian Navy ships. The Don patrol boat deliberately rammed our tugboat, damaging the ship's main engine and losing the life raft attached to it," the press service of the Ukrainian Navy reported on its Facebook page.
The Ukrainian Navy affirmed that Kiev had announced in advance the plan for the warships' journey, in accordance with international standards to ensure traffic safety.
Earlier, the press service of the Crimean Border Service of the FSB reported that three warships of the Ukrainian Navy had crossed the Russian state border and were moving in the direction of the Kerch Strait. Meanwhile, in Kerch, the movement and anchorage of ships corresponded to the permitted schedule approved by the Russian port command.
Three Ukrainian warships cross Russian border
Three warships of the Ukrainian Navy have crossed the state border of Russia and are moving towards the Kerch Strait, - the press service of the Crimean Border Service of the FSB reported.
