Russia allows its military to prevent foreign vessels from passing through the Kerch Strait
The State Duma of Russia enacted a law that gives the National Guard of Russia the right to expel vessels from areas adjacent to the Crimean Bridge in the Kerch Strait, reported Interfax.
“Currently the National Guard of Russia has the authority to inspect ships that violate maritime law regarding structures protected by the Russian Guard. However, the Russian Guard does not have the right to expel vessels from zones prohibiting shipments and to escort these ships to specific docking areas,” says the message.
In fact, this new document allows the Russian guard to detain any vessel that it deems is an “intruder.”
“Now the Russian National Guard can also escort these vessels to ports and formally charge them with unlawful activity. In view of the tense situation in the region, this law seems particularly important,” says the statement.
Since the opening of the bridge across the Kerch Strait, which connected the annexed Crimea with Russia, the Russian side has the ability to block Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea. By the end of this year, Ukraine plans to create a naval military base in the Azov Sea. Military ships Donbas and Korets made their way from the Black Sea to the Azov Sea this week.