Russia returns three Ukrainian naval ships captured in the Kerch Strait

Illustration photo: TASS

In a comment issued on November 18, the Russian Foreign Ministry said that the country had returned to Ukraine three ships that were captured in the Kerch Strait area a year ago.

“On November 18, three naval vessels were returned to Ukraine that violated the Russian border in November 2018 during Kiev’s deliberate provocation in the Kerch Strait area and were detained by Russian authorities,” the ministry said.

“Russia is determined to resolutely counter any provocations near its borders in order to maintain safety of maritime navigation in accordance with Russian legislation, bilateral treaties and other applicable international legal norms,” the Russian Foreign Ministry noted.

The statement reiterated that the ships were returned as concrete evidence in Russia’s ongoing criminal proceedings on the illegal crossing of the Russian border. “The return to Ukraine for their safekeeping became possible because the Russian authorities have completed the necessary investigative procedures regarding the ships and their presence in Russian territory so that further legal proceedings are no longer necessary,” the Russian Foreign Ministry added.

“We would like to point out once again that the orders of the Kiev authorities to the military to carry out provocative actions in November 2018 were a crime not only against the sovereignty of Russia, but also against the citizens of Ukraine, who were deliberately put in danger and forced to commit illegal actions.”

Earlier, a security source said the transfer of the ship would take several hours. “The handover process has begun. It will take place in accordance with the agreements reached by the parties. The handover will take place 30km from Cape Takil and is expected to take several hours,” the source said.