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Russia says acted ‘strictly’ within international law in Kerch Strait
MOSCOW, Nov 26, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Russia said Monday it had acted strictly
within international law during a confrontation this weekend between Russian
and Ukrainian navy ships in the Kerch Strait.
“The Russian side acted strictly within both domestic and international
law,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said during a daily press briefing.
Russian navy vessels fired on, boarded and captured three Ukrainian naval
ships on Sunday, accusing them of illegally entering Russian waters off the
coast of Crimea in the Sea of Azov.
Peskov said Moscow has opened a criminal case “in connection to the
violation of Russia’s borders” but gave no details on the fate of the
Ukrainian sailors held by Moscow.
“We are talking about the intrusion of foreign military ships into Russian
territorial waters,” he said.
He said President Vladimir Putin was informed when the Ukrainian ships
entered “neutral waters in front of Crimea” on Sunday afternoon and that he
was briefed on an “ongoing basis”.
Peskov said Russia’s actions were not “an attack, but necessary actions to
prevent the crossing of Russia’s borders.”
The confrontation at sea has raised fears of a wider military escalation
and the UN Security Council was to hold an emergency session later Monday to
consider a response.
BSS/AFP/BZC/1900HRS