Russia accuses Ukrainian Navy of provocation in Black Sea

Moscow accused the Ukrainian Navy of provocative military actions in the Black Sea and threatening the security of Russia's maritime economic activities in this important sea area.

Photo: AP

Admiral Gennady Medvedev, Deputy Director of the Border Guard Service, part of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB), said that Russian security agencies, in conjunction with the Russian Navy, took timely countermeasures.

“For example, on March 31, 2016, a Ukrainian Navy ship took provocative action, firing at the Tavrida jack-up rig in the Black Sea,” Admiral Medvedev said.

He explained that the rig is the property of the state-owned enterprise Chernomorneftegaz in Crimea.

"The incident was prevented by a joint operation of security forces and the Black Sea Fleet.

The cruiser Getman Sagaidachny and the submersible Pochaev, which opened fire, were driven away from the rig area,” the Russian admiral said.

Up to now, the Kiev government has not made any comments on the above accusations.

According to TPO