Russian ship enters closed area of Sea Breeze 2019 exercise

Russian Black Sea Fleet missile destroyer Smetlivy has entered a Black Sea area closed to navigation, despite a warning regarding the closure of the area for conducting the international exercise Sea Breeze 2019, the press center of the command of the Ukrainian Navy has reported.

"On July 10, 2019, the Russian Federation once again showed its true face and, ignoring the rules of international maritime law, provoked an emergency situation in the Black Sea area. Despite a coastal notification for seafarers regarding the closure of the area for conducting the international exercise Sea Breeze 2019, the Smetlivy, a ship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, entered at about 08:00 on July 10, 2019 an area closed to navigation, where practical naval artillery shooting was conducted by a naval group of an international coalition, and provoked a dangerous situation," the report reads.

It notes that the Russian ship was interviewed by Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sahaidachny in accordance with the international protocol, but pretended to have "problems with communication."

This fact is another reason for the international community not to regard the Russian Federation as a predicted subject of international maritime law, systemic violations of which have become common Russian behavior in the Black Sea region, the press service said.

Ukrainian-U.S. exercise Sea Breeze 2019 is underway in southern Ukraine from July 1 to July 12. Almost 3,000 troops from 19 countries participate in the drills.

op