Contents tagged with Black Sea

  • Ukraine asks Budapest Memorandum signatories and EU for protection against Russia

    During an emergency session of the National Security and Defense Council (NSDC), Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has asked the signatory countries of the Budapest Memorandum and the EU for assistance in repelling Russian aggression.

     “We turn to our partners according to the Budapest Memorandum, who have taken on themselves the obligation to protect the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of our state; we turn to the European Union, including the participants of the …

  • Ukrainian Navy Commander: conflict with Russia in Black Sea is highly probable

    During “Freedom of speech” program on ICTV, Ukrainian Navy Commander Vice Admiral Ihor Voronchenko said that Russia may resort to escalation in the Black Sea.

    Ukraine recently stated that it intends to establish a naval base in the Sea of Azov due to Russia's hostile activities in the region. Voronchenko believes that the situation in the Black Sea could become as tense as the situation in the Sea of Azov.

    “They [Russia] are already questioning the crews when ships flying our flag or other …

  • Ukraine to establish border with Russia in the Azov and Black Seas

    On October 12, President Petro Poroshenko put into effect the decision of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) to protect Ukraine’s interests in the Azov and Black Seas, the Kerch Strait, as well as in the south and east of Ukraine, as stated in Decree No. 320/2018.

    A great number of articles of this decree are classified. The non-confidential part of the decree speaks about, for example, the need to form a working situational group to protect Ukraine’s national …

  • Romania concerned about Russia’s military activity in the Black Sea

    Romania is concerned about the increased Russian military activity in the Black Sea. Strengthening European security will be the main topic in January, when this country, in the order of rotation, will take over the European Union presidency, said Romanian Defense Minister Mihai Fifor.

    “The Russian Federation is using the Black Sea to move forces into the eastern Mediterranean areas,” stated Mihai Fifor at the international conference hosted by the Aspen Institute.

    “The situation has changed …

  • Ukrainian Navy conducts exercises in the Black and Azov Seas

    The Ukrainian Naval Forces conducted the command-staff exercises Cossack Will-2018  in the Black and Azov Seas, reported the press service of the Ukrainian Navy.

    “The main goal of the exercises is to increase the military command and control bodies’ capability of conducting defensive stabilization actions by the troops, as well as planning and implementing counter-offensive operations,” the statement reads.

    According to reports, personnel of the six tactical groups of the Ukrainian Naval …

  • Britain scrambles two fighter jets to intercept Russian bombers

    British fighter jets intercepted two Russian bombers probing UK airspace, according to a statement made by the British Ministry of Defense. “RAF Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) Typhoon fighter aircraft scrambled from RAF Lossiemouth to monitor two Russian planes approaching UK airspace. The Russian Blackjacks long-range bombers were not talking to air traffic control, making them a hazard to all other aviation.,” said the Ministry of Defense in a statement.

    British Typhoon fighter jets were sent …

  • Ukraine reinforces its Azov and Black Sea border guards with Special Forces

    Ukrainian border guards working in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas will be reinforced with Naval Special Forces, said Head of the State Border Service of Ykraine (SBSU) Petro Tsyhykal, reported the press service of the SBSU.

    Tsyhykal explained that apart from law enforcement responsibilities, the Border Service’s task is to strengthen efforts in the east of the country in response to Russia’s actions, including in the waters of the Azov and Black Seas.

    “I think we will have about a …

  • Ukraine to allocate over 5% of its GDP to the defense budget

    The National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine (NSDC) has adopted the main parameters of the defense budget for 2019, the NSDC’s press service stated. Over 5% of the GDP will be allocated for the needs of security and defense sector of Ukraine.

    "At the request of the president of Ukraine, a significant increase in servicemen’s pay is one of the important priorities of the budget for next year,” noted Secretary of the NSDC Oleksandr Turchynov. He said the development, preparation of …

  • Ukraine and Turkey to conduct joint patrols in the Black Sea

    The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Ukraine and the Turkish Coast Guard will jointly patrol the Black Sea.

    According to the website of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the head of the Interior Ministry Arsen Avakov and the commander of the Turkish Coast Guard Ahmet Kendir reached this agreement.

    “We conduct serious consultations and work with the commander of the Turkish Coast Guard, Ahmet Kandir regarding joint actions between our border guards such as monitoring and rapid response  …

  • Russia detains Ukrainian vessel in the Black Sea

    On August 28, Representatives of the border office of the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Crimea detained Ukrainian fishing boat number YAOD-2105 and its crew of four, as stated on Facebook by the Main Department of the Ukrainian National Police (MDNP) in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and Sevastopol.

    According to the police, four fishermen are held at the border post of Sevastopol. “On these grounds, two criminal proceedings have been instituted under Section 1, Article 146-1 …