President Poroshenko: attack on the Ukrainian ships was deliberately planned by Russia
In an interview with three Ukrainian TV channels, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said that Russia was purposefully preparing for an attack on Ukrainian ships.
“They knew. They were preparing. These were deliberate actions with the use of aviation and tools for electronic radio combat, with an underwater assault by special forces,” noted Poroshenko.
He added that Russia deployed a large number of warships to the Azov and the Black Sea. These warships are most densely concentrated in the area of the Kerch Strait.
“Our sailors defended themselves. I am sure that the goal [of the Russians] was to provoke us to open fire, and possibly kill someone. Moreover, I would not exclude the possibility that this would play out similar to the situation in Georgia, in 2008,” Poroshenko noted.
He said that, judging by the intercepted conversations of the Russian sailors, they received the order to shoot to kill from their leadership.
In an interview with three Ukrainian TV channels, Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko said that Russia was purposefully preparing for an attack on Ukrainian ships.
“They knew. They were preparing. These were deliberate actions with the use of aviation and tools for electronic radio combat, with an underwater assault by special forces,” noted Poroshenko.
He added that Russia deployed a large number of warships to the Azov and the Black Sea. These warships are most densely concentrated in the area of the Kerch Strait.
“Our sailors defended themselves. I am sure that the goal [of the Russians] was to provoke us to open fire, and possibly kill someone. Moreover, I would not exclude the possibility that this would play out similar to the situation in Georgia, in 2008,” Poroshenko noted.
He said that, judging by the intercepted conversations of the Russian sailors, they received the order to shoot to kill from their leadership.
On November 25, Russian border guards attacked and captured two artillery boats and one tugboat belonging to the Ukrainian Navy. All three ships were damaged the Russians opened fire on them. Six Ukrainian sailors were injured, and Russia is now detaining a total of 23 Ukrainian servicemen.
Before this, a Russian ship rammed into the Yany Kapu tugboat, which was heading from Odessa to Mariupol, accompanied by the Berdyansk and Nikopol armored boats. The ramming caused damaged to the tugboat’s primary motor, its handrail, and the loss of a life raft.
The Ukrainian Naval Command emphasized that it informed the Russians in advance of its intention to transfer the boats, in keeping with international maritime traffic safety laws. The Russian FSB, on the other hand, claimed that it did not receive any notifications, and described its aggression as “protecting the state border”.
The agreement between Russia and Ukraine on the use of the Azov Sea and Kerch Strait has not been denounced. It gives ships of both countries the right to move freely in these internal waters.
On November 26th, after the armed attack of Russian border guards on the Ukrainian military in the Kerch Strait, the Verkhovna Rada approved the decree of President Petro Poroshenko to enact Martial law in 10 regions of Ukraine.