President Zelensky asks Russia to return weapons from Ukrainian naval ships

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky. Photo: TASS

Returning from the port of Ochakovo after inspecting three Ukrainian naval ships returned by Russia, President Vlaidmir Zelensky said that Kiev will analyze the condition of the ships and will ask Moscow to hand over the missing equipment of the ships.

"The ships are missing some equipment after being returned. We have discussed with the admiral and I cannot say some details yet, but some weapons are missing compared to the original. I have seen the situation, and there will be an investigation into this incident. We will definitely discuss with the Russian side so that Russia can return them in the correct condition," President Zelensky said at the Ochakovo military port.

The Ukrainian leader also noted that the ships will be repaired for about three months. After that, they will be returned to service with the Ukrainian Navy.

General Igor Vonronchenko, Commander of the Ukrainian Navy, said that law enforcement agencies will conduct the necessary investigation to assess the condition of the ships.

November 25, 2018, 3 Ukrainian naval vessels illegally crossed the Russian border and attempted to conduct a number of provocative actions in the Kerch Strait area in Russian territorial waters, and were detained by Russian authorities.

November 18Recently, in the neutral waters of the Black Sea, the return to Ukraine of these three naval ships that violated the Russian border took place.

On the same day, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry announced that Kiev has no intention of abandoning its lawsuit against Russia at the UN International Court of Justice, despite the return of the naval ships and 24 sailors previously detained.