Foreign Ministry condemns Russia's aggressive actions in Sea of Azov
Poland's Foreign Ministry condemned on Sunday night Russia’s aggressive actions against Ukrainian navy ships transiting the Kerch Strait, which connects the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
"We strongly condemn Russia's aggressive actions: we are calling on the authorities to respect international law," Poland's Foreign Ministry said in reference to the situation in the Sea of Azov, in a statement published on the ministry's website.
"Dramatic escalation of tension in the waters of the Sea of Azov, which resulted in injuring Ukrainian sailors and damaging naval ships, has its roots in the consistent violation by the Russian Federation of the basic provisions of international law, violation of the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Ukraine," the Foreign Ministry added.
"Following the illegal occupation of Crimea, fuelling the conflict in Donbas, building the Kerch Bridge without the consent of Kiev, Russia violated the freedom of navigation," the ministry pointed out.
Late on Sunday, Ukraine’s navy said that three of its vessels were seized after being fired upon by Russian forces in the Kerch Strait. The vessels were on their way to the harbour of Mariupol on the shore of the Sea of Azov. Six Ukrainian sailors were wounded in the incident.
Earlier, Ukraine’s navy also said that a Ukrainian tugboat had been rammed by a Russian warship.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko met with his top military and security chiefs. Poroshenko said he would propose that parliament impose martial law. (PAP)
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