Interesting timing. Amirite?
BBC
Ukraine's navy says Russia has fired on and seized three of its vessels off the coast of the annexed Crimea, in a major escalation of tensions.
It said two gunboats and a tug were captured by Russian special forces after a chase. Two Ukrainian crew members were injured.
Russia is yet to comment on the claims.
The crisis began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters and stopped them from sailing into the Sea of Azov.
The Russians placed a cargo ship under a bridge in the Kerch Straight. It is the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko later called an urgent meeting of his "war cabinet", his spokesperson said.
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What's the latest?
In a statement on Sunday evening, the Ukrainian navy said the Berdyansk and the Nikopol gunboats were hit and disabled as they tried to leave the area.
It said the tug was forced to stop.
"There is also information that two Ukrainian sailors were injured," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Russia's FSB security service said that the three Ukrainian vessels were returning home, Russia's Ria Novosti news agency reports.
How did the events develop throughout the day?
On Sunday morning, the Ukrainian ships tried to sail from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, Ukraine said.
It said Russia then tried to intercept the boats with one vessel ramming the Ukraine's Yana Kapa tug.
Russia later scrambled two fighter jets and two helicopters to monitor the Ukrainian vessels.
After placing the tanker under the bridge that spans the Kerch Strait, Russia said the traffic was suspended for security reasons.
Russian officials said Ukrainian naval reinforcements had been sent to the area and accused Kiev of trying "to create a conflict situation in this region".
But Ukraine said it had informed the Russians of its plan to move its ships through the sea to Mariupol.
It said the Russian actions marked a breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In recent weeks, a Ukrainian vessel was escorted by Russian tugs under the bridge without an incident.
………………………..
Ukranian artillery boat
BBC
Ukraine's navy says Russia has fired on and seized three of its vessels off the coast of the annexed Crimea, in a major escalation of tensions.
It said two gunboats and a tug were captured by Russian special forces after a chase. Two Ukrainian crew members were injured.
Russia is yet to comment on the claims.
The crisis began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters and stopped them from sailing into the Sea of Azov.
The Russians placed a cargo ship under a bridge in the Kerch Straight. It is the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko later called an urgent meeting of his "war cabinet", his spokesperson said.
……………
What's the latest?
In a statement on Sunday evening, the Ukrainian navy said the Berdyansk and the Nikopol gunboats were hit and disabled as they tried to leave the area.
It said the tug was forced to stop.
"There is also information that two Ukrainian sailors were injured," the statement said.
Meanwhile, Russia's FSB security service said that the three Ukrainian vessels were returning home, Russia's Ria Novosti news agency reports.
How did the events develop throughout the day?
On Sunday morning, the Ukrainian ships tried to sail from the Black Sea port of Odessa to Mariupol in the Sea of Azov, Ukraine said.
It said Russia then tried to intercept the boats with one vessel ramming the Ukraine's Yana Kapa tug.
Russia later scrambled two fighter jets and two helicopters to monitor the Ukrainian vessels.
After placing the tanker under the bridge that spans the Kerch Strait, Russia said the traffic was suspended for security reasons.
Russian officials said Ukrainian naval reinforcements had been sent to the area and accused Kiev of trying "to create a conflict situation in this region".
But Ukraine said it had informed the Russians of its plan to move its ships through the sea to Mariupol.
It said the Russian actions marked a breach of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.
In recent weeks, a Ukrainian vessel was escorted by Russian tugs under the bridge without an incident.
………………………..
Ukranian artillery boat
