Kyiv: Ukraine will ask to close Bosphorus Strait for Russia
The commander of the Naval Forces Ukraine Armed Forces, Ihor Voronchenko, stated that Ukraine intends to ask for the closure of the Bosphorus Strait for the passage of Russian ships after the Russian attack on the Ukrainian military vessels in the Kerch Strait area.
"I am sure that the international community will nevertheless make a decision and acknowledge that there was an act of aggression against the Ukrainian state. Due to this, and according to the norms of the Montreux Convention, specifically article 19, we will request the closure of the Bosphorus Strait in the Republic of Turkey [to the Russian vessels] so that Russians know not to violate international law, “said Voronchenko during his speech at the second International Maritime Security Conference in Kyiv on Thursday.
Later, in the commentary to Interfax-Ukraine, the admiral said that this topic had already been raised with NATO in autumn.
“In September, at the NATO headquarters in Naples, I asked the Turkish Navy commander: if there is Russian aggression against Ukraine, will you close the Bosphorus Strait for the aggressor country. The commander replied: we will comply with the convention,” said Voronchenko.
"The Montreux Convention clearly states: if a conflict occurs between two countries, and one of them is the aggressor, then the Bosphorus automatically closes for ships flying its flag," he said.
On the morning of November 25, Ukraine informed the Russian port of its intention to transfer three ships through the Kerch Strait, as required by the Agreement on the joint use of the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait. However, at around 8:00 a.m., Russian ships carried out acts of provocation against the Ukrainian vessels, even ramming into the Yany Kapu tugboat.
Russia later accused the Ukrainian ships of illegally entering its territorial waters, claiming that they were “maneuvering dangerously” and “not complying with the legitimate demands of the Russian authorities”. Russia also physically blocked the Kerch Strait with a transport ship. The Ukrainian ships decided to return to Odessa, but they were chased and subsequently attacked by the Russian military. The Berdiansk and Nikopol boats were hit, and two crew members were wounded. All three of the ships were seized by Russia.