Russia seizes Ukrainian naval ships

[PunkTheFunk 125,703]

Tension escalates after Russia seizes Ukraine naval ships

Russia has fired on and seized three Ukrainian naval vessels off the Crimean Peninsula in a major escalation of tensions between the two countries.

Two gunboats and a tug were captured by Russian forces. A number of Ukrainian crew members were injured.

Each country blames the other for the incident. On Monday Ukrainian MPs are due to vote on declaring martial law.

The crisis began when Russia accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its waters.

The Russians placed a tanker under a bridge in the Kerch Strait - the only access to the Sea of Azov, which is shared between the two countries.

During a meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defence Council, President Petro Poroshenko described the Russian actions as "unprovoked and crazy".

Russia has requested an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council, which US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley says has been called for 11:00 New York time (16:00 GMT) on Monday.

Tensions have recently risen in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov off the Crimean peninsula - annexed by Russia in 2014.

The European Union called on Russia to "restore freedom of passage at the Kerch Strait" and urged "all to act with utmost restraint".

Nato said it "fully supports Ukraine's sovereignty and its territorial integrity, including its navigational rights in its territorial waters". It said Russia should "ensure unhindered access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea".

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46338671

[Lucas 31,131]

I hate Russia so much

[luckyanderson 379]

Russia is THAT GIRL who goes around being messy and starting **** (i.e. provoking the otherwise innocent) and then when faced with the reprecussions of their actions wants to become even more aggressive as it they were not deserving of other's reactions to their provocation to begin with! Shameful.