A detailed account of the events surrounding the Russia’n military aggression against Ukraine in the Black Sea on 25 November 2018

On 23 November, a Ukrainian naval group of three vessels, notably small armored cutters “Nikopol” and “Berdyansk” as well as a tugboat “Yani Kapu”, started a planned transfer from the port of Odesa in the Black Sea to the port of Mariupol in the Azov Sea. It was fully legal and legitimate in terms of both international law and bilateral treaties.

Over the daytime of 25 November, Ukrainian military vessels were shot at and then seized by the Russians in the waters beyond the 12-mile zone in the Black Sea on their way back to Odesa port. 24 Ukrainian servicemen have been seized and imprisoned (6 wounded, including 2 in critical condition).

On 26 November this act of aggression was condemned by most UN Security Council members during the briefing requested by the delegation of Ukraine.

UN Secretary-General, in his turn, also sounded an alarm.