USA: Moscow limits Ukraine’s maritime sovereignty
The United States has criticized Russia’s naval exercises in the Black and Azov Seas.
This is stated on Twitter of the US Embassy in Ukraine.
“Russia’s economic war against Ukraine continues. Under the pretext of military training, Russia is restricting Ukraine’s maritime sovereignty, restricting freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov Seas, and impeding maritime transport necessary for Ukraine’s economy,” the embassy said.
Russia has recently launched joint exercises with Belarus near Ukraine’s northern border.
Another Russian military exercise is scheduled for February 13-19 in the Black and Azov Seas.
Moscow transfers to the Black Sea landing ships from the Baltic and Northern Fleets of the Russian Federation – “Queen”, “Kaliningrad”, “Minsk”, “Peter Morgunov”, “Olenegorsky Miner”, “George the Victorious”.
The Russian state agency RIA Novosti reported with reference to the press service of the Black Sea Fleet that in the Crimea will work out the defense of the coast from landing.
In Ukraine, they are believed to be “blocking shipping in the region and have at least serious economic consequences for Ukraine.
“We strongly protest against Russia’s decision to block parts of the Black Sea, the Sea of Azov and the Kerch Strait in preparation for maritime education,” Ukrainian People’s Spokesman Oleh Nikolenko tweeted.
According to him, the unprecedented large area of study does not actually allow navigation in both words of the sea, and this, in turn, leads to negative economic problems for Ukraine, in particular, for its ports.
In the evening 10 Ukrainian journalist, editor of the site BlackSeaNews Andriy Klymenko with reference to the NOTAM system, which Russia has changed its mind to block the Sea of Azov. There is no official confirmation of this.